A dissertation on oriental gardening

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A

DIS SERTATION

BY

STWILLIAM c HAMBERSfi:
Comptroller General of his Afaje/hl? Works.

L O N D O N:

Printed by W. GrIFFEST, Printer to the RoTAL ACADEMT.fold by Him in Ca&ermr/hzet:
and hy T.DaVTES, Bookfeller to the ROYAIi ACADEMY, m Jiu/jfc/ yereet.
Coeen? Gardens alfo try J .DODSLET, A//Jfe/// WILSON and NlCOLL, Sbwtd;
J. WALTER, (Tfc/r'^fhfi; and P. ELMSLEY, Jiimnd. 177a.

V

DISSERTATION

O N

ORIENTAL GJRD ENING-,

b y

SR WILLIAM CHAMBERS,

Comptroller-General of his Majesty's Works, &c»

the SECOND EDITION, with ADDITIONS.

1, . i H ' ■ ■ .....-■■■■ ,,M |

TO WHICH IS ANNEXED,

AN EXPLANATORY DISCOURSE,

B Y

Tan Chet-q.ua, of Qjjang-che w-fu, Gent.

LONDON:

Printed by W. Griffin, Printer to the Royal Academy; fold by Him in
Cathariw-Jlreet ; and by T. Davies, Bookfeller to the Royal Academy, in
RuJJel-Jlreet, Covenl-Gartlen : alfo by J. Dodsley, Pall-Mall; Wilson and
Nicoll, Strand; J. Walter, Chai'mg-Ctofs; and P. Elm$ley, Strand. J773.

T O

THE KING.

I HUMBLY heg leave to lay at Y>ur Majesty's feet the following
DiiTertatioii upon an Art of which Tfou are the firft Judge , as well as
the moft munificent Encourager .

A Sketch of the prefent little Performance was graabufly received by
"fi)ur Majesty many years ago, and found a kind reception in the world,
under the Influence of Tiour Patronage. This is more ample, I wifh it may
be more perfect than the original; that it may have a jufter title to Tour
Indulgence , and better pretentions to the favor of the Publick .
I am ,

May it pleafe Yirar Maj e s t y ,

Your Maj e sty's
dutiful fervant and faithful fubjecx ,

"WILLIAM CHAMBERS.

P R E F A G E.

XJLMONGST the decorative arts, there is none of
which the influence is fo extenfive as that of Gardening.
The productions of other arts have their feparate clafTes
of admirers, who alone relifh or fet any great value upon
them: to the reft of the world they are indifferent; fome-
times difgufting. A building affords no pleafure to the
generality of men, but what refults from the grandeur
of the object, or the value of its materials : nor doth a
pi&ure affect them, but by its refemblance to life : a
thoufand other beauties, of a higher kind, are loft upon
them: for, in Architecture, in Painting, and indeed in
moft other arts, men muft learn before they can admire;
their pleafure keeps pace with their judgment : and it
is only by knowing much, that they can be highly

delighted.

Eut

•it PREFACE.

But Gardening is of a different nature : its dominion
is general ; its effects upon the human mind certain and
invariable: without any previous information, without
being taught, all men are delighted with the gay lux-
uriant fcenery of fummer, and depreffed at the difmal
afpect of autumnal profpects: the charms of cultivation
are equally fenfible to the ignorant and the learned; and
they are equally difgufted at the rudenefs of neglected
nature : lawns, woods, fhrubberies, rivers and mountains,,
affect them both in the fame manner: and every com-
bination of thefe, will excite fimilar fenfations in the
minds of both.

Nor are the productions of this Art lefs permanent than
general in their effects : pictures, ftatues, buildings, foon
glut the fight, and grow indifferent to the fpectator :
but in gardens there is a continual ftate of fluctuation,
that leaves no room for fatiety ; the progrefs of vegetation,,
the vicifTitudes of feafons, the changes of the weather,
the different directions of the fun, the paffage of clouds3
the agitation and founds produced by winds, together

with

PREFACE. iii

with the accidental intervention of living or moving
objects, vary the appearances fo often, and fo conii-
derably, that it is almoft impoflible to be cloyed, even
with the fame profpects.

Is it not lingular then, that an Art with which a
confiderable part of our enjoyments is fo univerfally
connected, mould have no regular profeflbrs in our
quarter of the world ? Upon the continent it is a col-
lateral branch of the Architect's employment ; who,
immerfed in the fludy and avocations of his own pro-
feflion, finds no leifure for other difquffitions : and, in
this illandj it is abandoned to kitchen gardeners, well
/killed in the culture of fallads, but little acquainted with
the principles of Ornamental Gardening. It cannot be
expelled that men, uneducated, and doomed by their
condition to wafle the vigor of life in hard labour, mould
ever go far in fo refined, fo difficult a purfuit.

To this unaccountable want of regular mailers may,
in a great meafure, be afcribed the fcarcity of perfect

A 2 gardens

V?

R E F A C E,

gardens. There are indeed very few in our part of the
globe, wherein nature has been improved to the beffc
advantage, or art employed with the foundeft judgment.
The gardens of Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and of
all the other countries where the antient ftyle ftill prevails,
are in general mere cities of verdure ; their walks, like
ftreets, all conducted in ftrait lines, diverge from dif-
ferent large open fpaces, refembling public fquares j and
the hedges with which they are bordered, rife in imi-
tation of walls, adorned with pilafters, niches, windows
and doors; or they are cut into colonades, arcades and
porticos: all the detached trees are fhaped like obelifks,
pyramids and vafes ; and all the recefles in the thickets
bear the names and forms of theatres, amphitheatres,
temples, banqueting-halls, ball-rooms, cabinets and
faloons. The ftreets and fquares are well manned with
ftatues of marble or lead, ranged in regular lines, like
foldiers at a proceflion; which, to make them more
natural, are fometimes painted in proper colours, and
finely gilt. The lakes and rivers, confined by quais
of hewn ftone, are taught to flow in geometrick order ;

and

PREFACE. r

and the cafcades glide from the heights by many a
fucceflion of marble fteps : not a twig is fuffered to grow
as nature directs ; nor is a form admitted but what is
fcientific, and determinable by the rule or compafs.

In England, where this antient ftyle is held in
detefiation, and where, in opposition to the reft of the
world, a new manner is univerfally adopted, in which
no appearance of art is tolerated, our gardens differ very
little from common fields, fo clofely is vulgar nature
copied in mod of them; there is generally fo little
variety, and fo much want of judgment, in the choice
of the objects, fuch a poverty of imagination in the
contrivance, and of art in the arrangement, that thefe
compofitions rather appear the offspring of chance than
defign ; and a ftranger is often at a lofs to know whether
he be walking in a common meadow, or in a pleafure
ground, made and kept at a very confiderable expence : he
finds nothing either to delight or to amufe him ; nothing
to keep up his attention, or excite his curiofity ; little to
flatter the fenfes, and lefs to touch the paffions, or gratify

the

VI

R E F A C E.

the underftanding. At his firft entrance, he fees a large
green field, fcattered over with a few ftraggling trees, and
verged with aconfufed border of little flirubs and flowers;
on farther infpection, he finds a little ferpentine path,
twining in regular effes amonQ-ft the flirubs of the border,
upon which he is to go round, to look on one fide at
what he has already feen, the large green field; and on
the other fide at the boundary, which is never more
than a few yards from him, and always obtruding upon
his fight. From time to time he perceives a little feat
or temple ftuck up againft the wall: happy in the dif-
covery, he fits down to reft his wearied limbs, and then
reels on again, curfing the line of beauty ; till, fpent
with fatigue, half roafted by the fun, for there is never
any fhade, and dying for want of entertainment, he
refolves to fee no more : vain refolution! there is but one
path ; he muft either drag on to the end, or return by
the tedious way he came.

Such is the favourite plan of all our fmaller gardens:
and our larger works are only a repetition of the fmall

ones :

PREFACE. vii

ones : more green fields, more fhrubberies, more
Terpentine walks, and more temples ; like the honeft
batchelor's feaft, which confifted in nothing but a
multiplication of his own dinner; three legs of mutton
and turneps, three roafled geefe, and three buttered
apple-pies.

Sometimes, indeed, by way of regale, where fuch
dainties are attainable, you are treated with a ferpentine
river ; that is, a {tripe of ftagnant water, waving, in
femicircles, as far as it will reach, and finifhing in a
pretty little orderly ftep cafcade, that never runs but when
it rains. The banks of thefe curious rivers are every where
uniform, parallel, level, fmooth and green, as a billiard-
table ; and the whole compofition bears a great refem-
blance to the barge-canals of Holland: the only difference
being, that the Dutch ditches are regularly ftraight, whilft
ours are regularly crooked. Of the two, ours are certainly
the moil formal and affecled: they are by no means the
mod picturefque.

It

Vlll

R E F A C E.

It is I think obvious, that neither the artful nor the
iimple ftyle of Gardening here mentioned, is right: the
one being too much refined, and too extravagant a
•deviation from nature; the other, like a Dutch picture,
an affected adherence to her, without choice or judg-
ment. One manner is abfurd ; the other is infipid and
vulgar :- a judicious mixture of art and nature, an extract
of what is good in both manners, would certainly be
more perfect than either.

Yet how this union can be effected, is difficult to fay.
The men of art, and the friends of nature, are equally
violent in defence of their favourite fyftem; and, like
all other partizans, loth to give up any thing, however
un-reafonable.

Such a coalition is therefore now not to be expected :
whoever mould be bold enough to attempt it, would
probably incur the cenfure of both fides, without
reforming either ; and confequently prejudice himfeif
without doing fervice to the Art.

But

PREFACE. ix

But though it might be impertinent as well as ufelefs
to ftart a new fyftem of one's own, it cannot be improper,
nor totally unferviceable, to publim that of others:
efpecially of a people whofe" (kill in Gardening has often
been the fubject of praife; and whofe manner has been
fet up amongft us as the ftandard of imitation, without
ever having been properly defined. It is a common
faying, That from the worft things fome good may be
extracted; and even if what I have to relate fhould be
inferior to what is already known, yet furely fome ufeful
hints may be collected from it.

I may therefore, without danger to myfelf, and it is
hoped without offence to others, offer the following
account of the Chinefe manner of Gardening ; which is
collected from my own obfervations in China, from
converfations with their Artifts, and remarks tranfmitted
to me at different times by travellers. A fketch of what
I have now attempted to finifh, was publifhed fome
years ago; and the favourable reception granted to
that little performance, induced me to colled: materials
for this.

B

£'

4%

X

R E F A C E.

Whether the Chinefe manner of Gardening be better
or worfe than thofe now in ufe amongfl the Europeans,
I will not determine: companion is the fureft as well
as the eafiefl: tefl of truth: it is in every man's power to
compare and to judge for himfelf. — Should the prefent
publication contain any thing ufeful, my purpofe will
be fully anfwered ; if not, it may perhaps afford fome
little entertainment, or ferve at worfl to kill an idle,
hour.

I muft not enter upon my fubjecl:, without apologizing
• for the liberties here taken with our Englifh Gardens-
There are, indeed, feveral that do not come within the
compafs of my defcription 5 fome of which were laid out
by their owners, who are as eminently fkilled in Garden-
ing, as in many other branches of polite knowledge ; the
reft owe moft of their excellence to nature ; and are,
upon the whole, very little improved by the interposition
of art ; which, though it may have heightened fome of
their beauties, has totally robbed them of many others.

It

PREFACE. xt

It would be tedious to enumerate all the errors of a
falfe tafte : but the havock it has made in our old plan-
tations, mufl ever be remembered with indignation.
The ax has often, in one day, laid wafte the growth of
feveral ages; and thoufands of venerable plants, whole
woods of them, have been fwept away, to make room
for a little grafs, and a few American weeds. Our vir-
tuofi have fcarcely left an acre of fhade, nor three trees
growing in a line, from the Land's-end to the Tweed :
and if their humour for devaluation continues to rage
much longer, there will not be a foreft-tree left (landing
in the whole kingdom.

DISSERTATION.

XJlMONGST the Chinefe, Gardening is held in much
higher efteem, than it is in Europe : they rank a perfect
work in that Art, with the great productions of the
human underftanding ; and fay, that its efficacy in moving,
the paffions, yields to that of few other arts whatever.
Their Gardeners are not only Botanifts, but alfo Painters
and Philofophers ; having a thorough knowledge of the
human mind, and of the arts by which its ftrongeft
feelings are excited. It is not in China, as in Italy and'
France, where every petty Architect is a Gardener ;.
neither is it as in another famous country,, where peafants
emerge from the melon grounds to take the periwig, and
turn profeffors ; as Sganarelle, the faggot- maker j, quitted:
his hatchety and commenced physician* In- China,.
Gardening is a diftinct profeflionj requiring an extenfise:
ftudy; to the perfection of which, few arrive. The

Gardenerss

( '4 )

Gardeners there, far from being either ignorant or
illiterate, are men of high abilities, who join to good
natural parts, moft ornaments that ftudy, travelling, and
long experience can fupply them with : it is in confider-
ation of thefe accomplifhments only that they are per-
mitted to exercife their profeflion : for with the Chinefe
the tafte of Ornamental Gardening is an object of legif-
lative attention ; it being fuppofed to have an influence
upon the general culture, and confequently upon the
beauty of the whole country. They obferve, that
miftakes committed in this Art, are .too important to be
tolerated; being much expofed to view, and in a great
meafure irreparable : as it often requires the fpace of a
century, to redrefs the blunders of an hour.

The Chinefe Gardeners take nature for their pattern;
and their aim is to imitate all her beautiful irregularities.
Their firft confideration is the nature of the ground they
are to work upon : whether it be flat or Hoping ; hilly
or mountainous ; fmall or of considerable extent ;
abounding with fprings and rivers, or labouring under a

fcarcity

(■ «1 )

fcarcity of water ; whether woody or bare, rough or
even, barren or rich ; and whether the tranfitions be-
fudden, and the character grand, wild or tremendous 'y
or whether they be gradual, and the general bent placid,
gloomy or chearful. To all which circumftances they
carefully attend ; choofing fuch difpofitions as humour
tshe ground, hide its defects, improve or fet off its
advantages, and can be executed with expedition,, at a-
moderate expence.-

They are alfo attentive to the wealth or indigence of-
the patron by whom they are employed; to his age, his-
infirmities, temper, amufements, connections, bufinefs
and manner of living; as likewife to the feafon of the
year in which the Garden is likely to be mod frequented
by him: fuiting themfelves in their composition, to his
circumftances ; and providing for his wants and recre-
ations. Their jfkill confifts in ftruggling, with the im-
perfections and defects of nature ; and- with every other
impediment : and in producing, in fpite of every obitacle>
works that are uncommon, and perfect in their kind.

Though

( 16 )

Though the Chinefe artifts have nature for their ge-
neral model, yet are they not fo attached to her as to
exclude all appearance of art: on the contrary, they
think it, on many occasions, neceffary to make an
oftentatious fhew of their labour. Nature, fay they,
affords us but few materials to work with : plants, ground
and water, are her only productions : and though both
the forms and arrangements of thefe may be varied to an
incredible degree, yet have they but few ftriking varieties;
the reft being of the nature of changes rung upon bells,
which, though in reality different, ftill produce the fame
uniform kind of jingling ; the variation being too minute
to be eaiily perceived.

Art muft therefore fupply the fcantinefs of nature ;
and not only be employed to produce variety, but alfo
novelty and effect : for the iimple arrangements of nature
are met with in every common field, to a certain degree
of perfection; and are therefore too familiar to excite
any ftrong fenfations in the mind of the beholder, or to
produce any uncommon degree of pleafure.

It

( 17 )

It is indeed true, that novelty and variety may both
be attained, by tranfplanting the peculiarities of one
country to another ; by introducing rocks, cataracts,
impending woods, and other parts of romantic fituations,
in flat places; by employing much water where it is rare,
and cultivated plains, amidft the rude irregularities of
mountains : but even this refource is eafily exhaufted,
and can feldom be put in practice, without a very great
expence.

The Chinefe are therefore no enemies to ftrait lines ;
becaufe they are, generally fpeaking, productive of
grandeur, which often cannot be attained without them:
nor have they any averfion to regular geometrical figures,
which they fay are beautiful in themfelves, and well
fuited to fmall compofitions, where the luxuriant irre-
gularities of nature would fill up and embarrafs the parts
they fhould adorn. They likewife think them propereft
for flower-gardens, and all other compofitions, where
much art is apparent in the culture ; and where it fhould
therefore not be omitted in the forms.

C Their

( *8 )

Their regular buildings they generally furround with
artificial terrafTes, Hopes, and many flights of fteps; the
angles of which are adorned with groups of fculpture
and vafes, intermixed with all forts of artificial water-
works, which, connecting with the architecture, fpread
the compofition, ferve to give it confequence, and add
to the gaiety, fplendor, and buftle of the fcenery.

Round the main habitation, and near all their decorated
ftau&ures, the grounds are laid out with great regularity,,
and kept with great care : no plants are admitted that
intercept the view of the buildings ; nor any lines but
fuch as accompany the architecture properly, and con.-
tribute to the general fymmetry and good effect of the
whole compofition :. for they hold it abfurd to furround
an elegant fabric with diforderly rude vegetation ; faying,
that it looks like a diamond fet in lead ; and always
conveys the idea, of an unfiniihed work. When the
buildings are rufiic, the fcenery which: furrounds them
is wild; when, they are grand, , it is gloomy; when gay,
it is luxuriant : in fiiort, the Chinefe are fcrupuloufly

nice

( 19 )

nice in preferving the fame character through every part
of the composition ; which is one great caufe of that
furprifing variety with which their works abound.

They are fond of introducing ftatues, bufts, bas-reliefs,
and every production of the chifel, as well in other parts
of their Gardens, as round their buildings ; obferving,
that they are not only ornamental, but, that by com-
memorating paft events, and celebrated perfonages, they
awaken the mind to pleafing contemplation; hurryincr
our reflections up into the remoteft ages of antiquity:
and thcy^ never fail to fcatter antient infcriptions, verfes,
and moral fentences, about their grounds; which are
placed upon the backs of coloffal tortoife and elephants ;
on large ruinated ftones, and columns of marble; or
engraved on trees and rocks: fuch Situations being always
choien for them, as correfpond with the fenfe of the
infcriptions ; which thereby acquire additional force in
themfelves, and likewife give a llronger expreflion to
the Icene.

C 2 They

( 20 )

They fay, that all thefe decorations are necefTary, to
characterize and diftinguifh the different fcenes of their
compofitions ; among which, without fuch ailiftance,
there would unavoidably be a tirefome fimilarity.

And whenever it is objected to them, that many of
thefe things are unnatural, and ought therefore not to
be fuffered, they anfwer, that moft improvements are
unnatural ; yet they are allowed to be improvements,
and not only tolerated, but admired. Our veftments?
fay they, are neither of leather, nor like our fkins, but
formed of rich filks and embroidery; our houfes and
palaces bear no refemblauce to caverns in the rocks,
which are the only natural habitations ; nor is our mulic
either like thunder, or the whittling of the northern
wind, the harmony of nature. Nature produces nothing
either boiled, roailed or ftewed ; and yet we do not eat
raw meat : nor doth fhe fupply us with any other tools
for all our purpofes, but teeth and hands ; yet we have
faws, hammers, axes, and a thoufand other implements :
in fhort, there is fcarcely any thing in which art is not

apparent j

( *« )

apparent; and why mould its appearance be excluded
from Gardening only ? Poets and painters foar above the
pitch of nature, when they would give energy to their
compofitions. The fame privilege, therefore, fhould be
allowed to Gardeners : inanimate, fimple nature, is too
infipid for our purpofes : much is expected from us ;
and therefore, we have occafion for every aid that either
art or nature can furnifh. The fcenery of a Garden mould
differ as much from common nature, as an heroic poem
doth from a profe relation ; and Gardeners, like poets,
fhould give a loofe to their imagination ; and even fly
beyond the bounds of truth, whenever it is neceffary to
elevate, to embellifh, to enliven, or to add novelty to
thtir fubjecl.

The ufual method of distributing Gardens in China,
is to contrive a great variety of fcenes, to be hen from
certain points of view j at which are placed feats or
buildings, adapted to the different purpofes of mental or
fenfual enjoyments, The perfection of their Gardens
confifts in the number and diverilty of thefe fcenes; and

in

( 22 )

in the artful combination of their parts ; which they
endeavour to difpofe in fuch a manner, as not only
Separately to appear to the beft advantage, but alfo to
unite in forming an elegant and finking whole.

Where the ground is extenfive, and many fcenes can
be introduced, they generally adapt each to one fingle
point of viewi but where it is confined, and affords no
room for variety, they difpofe their objects fo, that being
viewed from different points, they produce different
reprefentations 5 and often fuch as bear no refemblance
to each other. They likewife endeavour to place the
feparate fcenes of their compositions in fuch directions as
to unite, and be feen all together, from one or more
particular points of view ; whence the eye may be
delighted with an extenfive, rich and variegated profpecl.
They take all poflible advantage of exterior objects;
hiding carefully the boundaries of their own grounds ;
and endeavouring to make an apparent union between
them and the diftant woods, fields and rivers : and where
towns, caftles, towers, or any other confiderable objects

are

( 23 )

are in fight, they artfully contrive to have them feen
from as many points, and in as many directions as
pofiible. The fame they do with regard to navigable
rivers, high roads, foot-paths, mills, and all other moving
objects, which animate and add variety to the landfcape.

Befides the ufual European methods of concealing
boundaries by ha-has, and funk fences, they have others,
ftill more effectual. On flats, where they have naturally
no profpects of exterior objects, they enclofe their plan-
tations with artificial terraffes, in the form of walks, to
which you afcend by infenfible Hopes: thefe they border
on the infide with thickets of lofty trees and underwood;
and on the outfide, with low fhrubberies; over which the
pafifenger fees the whole fcenery of the adjacent country,
in appearance forming a continuation of the Garden, as
its fence is carefully concealed amongft the fhrubs that
cover the outfide declivity of die. terrafs.

And where the Garden, happens to ftand on higher
ground, than the adjacent country, they carry artificial

rivers

( 24 )

fivers round the outskirts, under the oppoftte banks of
which, the boundaries are concealed, amongft trees and
fhrubs. Sometimes too they make ufe of ftrong wire
fences, painted green, fattened to the trees and fhrubs
that border the plantations, and carried round in many
irregular directions, which are fcarcely feen till you come
very near them : and wherever ha-has, or funk fences
are ufed, they always fill the trenches with briars, and
other thorny plants, to ftrengthen the fence, and to
conceal the walls, which otherwife would have an ugly
.appearance from without.

In their large Gardens they contrive different fcenes

for the different times of the day; difponng at the points

of view, buildings, which from their ufe point out the

proper hour for enjoying the view in its perfections :

and in their fmall ones, where, as has been obferved,

.one arrangement produces many reprefentations, they

make ufe of the fame artifice. They have befide,

ibenes for every feafon of the year : fome for winter,

generally expofed to the fouthern fun, and compofed

of

( 25 )

of pines*, firs, cedars, evergreen oak's, phillyreas, hollies,
yews, junipers, and many other evergreens; being enriched
with laurels of various forts, laurefrinus, arbutus, and
fuch other plants and vegetables as grow or flourifh in cold
weather : and to give variety and gaiety to thefe gloomy
productions, they plant amongft them, in regular forms,
divided by walks, all the rare fhrubs, flowers and trees
of the torrid zone ; which they cover, during the winter,
with frames of glafs, difpofed in the forms of temples, or
other elegant buildings. Thefe they call confervatiories :
they are warmed by fubterraneous fires, and afford a
comfortable and agreeable retreat, when the weather is
too cold to walk in the open air. All forts of beautiful

* Thofe who are acquainted with the natural hiftory of China, know, that
it produces almoft all the plants and vegetables cultivated in Europe ; with
many others, that are not to be found even in our bed hot-houfes: amongft
which are feveral evergreens ; as theTfe-fong, of which the leaves refemble both
the juniper and cyprefs, mixed in a very beautiful manner; the Mo-lyen,
producing large flowers, like lillies, fome yellow, fome red, and fome white,
which open in December, and flourifh during the greater part of the winter;
the La-mew, a kind of bay, producing fine yellow flowers, that appear in
winter ; with many others, which, as they cannot here be obtained, it is
fuperfluous to enumerate.

D melodious

( 26 )

melodious birds are let loofe in them : and they keep
there, in large porcelain citterns, placed on artificial
rocks, gold and filver fifhes ; with various kinds of the
lyen-wha*, and other aquatic plants and flowers : they
alfo raife in them ftrawberries, cherries, figs, bananas,
li-chis f , grapes, apricots and peaches, which cover the
wood-work of their glafs frames, and ferve for ornament
as well as ufe.

Their fcenes of fpring like wife abound with evergreens,
intermixed with lilacks of all forts, laburnums, limes,

* The Lyen-wha is a water lilly, much efteemed in China. In the province
of Kiang-fi, whole lakes are covered with it, in a very beautiful manner;,
and it is cultivated, by all the great -lords, in ponds and cifterns, for the
decoration of their courts and gardens. The flower refembles a tulip, and
is either yellow, white, violet, crimfon, or ftreaked with various colours : its
l'mell is very pleafing ; and the fruit, which produces a white kernel, being
accounted a great reftorative and ftrengthener, is given, in China, as a
medicine, after fevere fits of illnefs : the leaves are large, of a circular form,
and brilliant green colour •, they float upon the furface of the water.

■f The fruit of the Li-chi refembles the berry of the arbutus, in every thing
but fize ; it being as large as a pigeon's egg, and full of a juicy pulp, thiam-
in flavor, far furpafTes any other fruit whatever.

larixes.

( 27 )

larixes, double bloflbmed thorn, almond and peach-trees;
with fweet-hryar, early rofes, and honey-fuckles. The
ground, and verges of the thickets and mrubberies, are
adorned with wild hyacinths, wall-flowers, daffodils,
violets, primrofes, polianthes's, crocus's, dairies, fnow-
drops, and various fpecies of the iris ; with fuch other
flowers as appear in the months of March and April :
and as thefe fcenes are alfo fcanty in their natural
productions, they interfperfe amongft their plantations,
menageries for all forts of tame or ferocious animals,
and birds of prey ; aviaries and groves, with proper
contrivances for breeding domeftic fowls ; decorated
dairies ; and buildings for the exercifes of wreftling,
boxing, quail-fighting, and other games known in China.
They alfo contrive in the woods large open recefTes for
military fports ; as riding, vaulting, fencing, mooting
with the bow, and running.

Their fummer fcenes compofe the richeft and mod
iludied parts of their Gardens. They abound with lakes
rivers, and water-works or every contrivance ; and with

D 2 veffels

( 28 )

vefTels of every conftruction, calculated for the ufes of
failing, rowing, fifhing, fowling, and fighting. The
woods confift of oak, beech, Indian chefnut, elm, am,
plane, u-ton~fhu * and common fycamore, maple, abele
and feveral other fpecies of the poplar ; with many other
trees, peculiar to China. The thickets are compofed of
every fair deciduous plant that grows in that climate,
and every flower or fhrub that flourifhes during the
fummer months; all uniting to form the fineft verdure,
the moft brilliant, harmonious colouring imaginable.
The buildings are fpacious, fplendid and numerous ;
every fcene being marked by one or more : fome of them
contrived for banquets, balls, concerts, learned difpu-
tations, plays, rope-dancing, and feats of activity; others
again for bathing, fwimming,. reading, fleeping, or
meditation.

In the center of thefe fummer plantations, there is
generally a large tract of ground fet afide for more fecret
and voluptuous enjoyments; which is laid out in a great

* A beautiful fpecies of the fycamore, peculiar to China.

number

( 29 )

number of clofe walks, colonades and paffages, turned
with many intricate windings, fo as to confufe and lead
the pafTenger aftray : being fometimes divided by thickets
of underwood, intermixed with ftraggling large trees;
and at other times by higher plantations, or by clump3
of the tfe-tan *, common rofe-trees, and other lofty
flowering fhrubs. The whole is a wildernefs of fweets,1
adorned with all forts of fragrant and gaudy productions;
Gold and filver pheafants, pea-fowls, partridges, bantam?
and golden hens, quails, and game of every kind, fwarm
in the woods ; doves* nightingales, and a thoufand
melodious birds^ perch upon the branches; deer, ante^
lopes, mufk goats -f-, fpotted buffaloes, ihen-fi ilieep t7
and Tartarean horfes, frifk upon the plains. Every walki

* A very large fpecies of the rofe- tree; die wood of which is- uncommonly,
beautiful, and ufed by the Chinele workmen for tables, cabinets, &c.

■j- A fort of roe-bucks, called by the Chinefe hyang-chang-tfe, found in
the mountains, weft of Peking, where they feed on the flefli of ferpents, who,
ftupified by the fcent of the mufk, are eafily killed by the animals ; though
iome of them are of an enormous fize, very ftrong, and naturally very fier-ce.

X. A fort of ilieep with very large, tails, which trail upon the ground.

leach

( 3° )

leads to fome delightful object: to groves of orano-e and
myrtle ; to rivulets, whofe banks are clad with rofes,
woodbine and jefTamine ; to murmuring fountains, with
ftatues of Sleeping nymphs, and water-gods ; to cabinets
of verdure, with beds of aromatic herbs and flowers ; to
grottos cut in rocks, adorned with incruftations of coral
fhells, ores, gems and cryftallizations, refreshed with
rills of fweet-fcented water, and cooled by fragrant,
artificial breezes.

Amongft the thickets which divide the walks, are
many fecret receffes ; in each of which there is an elegant
pavilion, conflfting of one ftate apartment, with out-
houfes, and proper conveniences for eunuchs and vvomen-
fervants. Thefe are inhabited, during the fummer, by
their faired and moft accomplifhed concubines; each
of them, with her attendants, occupying a feparate
pavilion.

The principal apartment of thefe buildings, confifts
of one or more large faloons, two cabinet or dreffing-

rooms,

( 3* )

rooms, a library, a couple of bed-chambers and waiting-
rooms, a bath, and feveral private clofets ; all which are
magnificently furnifhed, and provided with entertaining
books, amorous paintings, mufical inftruments, imple-
ments for gaming, writing, drawing, painting and
embroidering; with beds, couches, and chairs, of various
conftrudlions, for the ufes of fitting and lying in different
poftures..

The faloons generally open to little enclofed courts,
fet round with beautiful flower-pots, of different forms,
made of. porcelain, marble or copper, filled with the
rareft flowers of the feafon : at the end of the court there
is generally an aviary ; an artificial rock with a fountain
and bafon for gold fifh, or blue fifties of Hay-Nang*;
a cafcade; an arbor of bamboo or vine interwoven with
flowering fhrubs; or fome other elegant contrivance, of
the like nature.

* A little beautiful blue fifh, caught near the ifland of Hay-Nang, of
which the Chinefe ladies are very fond.

Befid

iaes

I 3^ )

Befides thefe feparate habitations, in which the ladies
are privately vifited by the patron, as often as he is
difpofed to fee them, and be particular, there are, in
other larger receffes of the thickets, more fplendid and
fpacious buildings, v/here the women all meet at certain
hours of the day, either to eat at the public tables, to
drink their tea, to converfe, bathe, fwim, work, romp,
or to play at the mora, and other games known in China;
or elfe to divert the patron with mufic, finging, lafcivious
pofture-dancing, and -acting plays or pantomimes: at all
which they generally are very expert.

Some of thefe flruclures are entirely open; the roof
being fupported on columns of rofe-wood, or cedar, with
bafes of Corean jafper, and cryftal of Chang-chew-fu;
or upon wooden pillars, made in imitation of bamboo,
and plantane-trees, furrounded with garlands of fruit
and flowers, artfully carved, being painted and varnilhed
in proper colours. Others are enclofed ; and confift
fcmetimes only of one fpacious hall, and fometimes of
many different flzed rooms, of various forms ; as triangles,

fquares,

( 33 )

fquares, hexagons, octagons, circles, ovals, and irregular
whimfical fhapes ; all of them elegantly finifhed with
incruftations of marble, inlaid precious woods, ivory,
filver, gold, and mother of pearl ; with a profufion of
antient porcelain, mirrors, carving, gilding, painting
and lacquering of all colours.

The doors of entrance to thefe apartments, are circular
and polygonal, as well as rectangular : and the windows
by which they are lighted, are made in the fhapes of
fans, birds, animals, fifties, infects, leaves and flowers ;
being filled with painted glafs, or different coloured
gaufe, to tinge the light, and give a glow to the objects
in the apartment.

All thefe buildings are furnifhed at a very great
expence, not only with the necelTary moveables, but
with pictures, fculptures, embroideries, trinkets, and
pieces of clock-work of great value ; being fome of them
very large, compofed of many ingenious movements,
and enriched with ornaments of gold, intermixed with
pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other gems.

E

( 34- )

Befides the different flructures already mentioned,
they have fome built in large trees, and difpofed amongfr.
the branches like nefts of birds, being finifhed on the
infide with many beautiful ornaments and pictures,
compofed of feathers ; fome they have likewife made in
the form of Perfian tents j others built of roots and
pollards, put together with great tafte; and others,
which are called Miau Ting, or Halls of the Moon,
being of a prodigious fize, and compofed each of one
Jingle vaulted room, made in the fhape of a hemifphere;
the concave of which is artfully painted, in imitation of
a nocturnal fky, and pierced with an infinite number of
little windows, made to reprefent the moon and ftars,
being filled with tinged giafs, that admits the light in
the quantities neceffary to fpread over the whole interior
fabric the pleafing gloom of a fine fummer's night.

The pavements of thefe rooms are fometimes laid out
in parterres of flowers ; amongft which are placed many
rural feats, made of fine formed branches, varnifhed red
to reprefent coral : but ofteneft their bottom is full of a

clear

( 35 )

clear running water, which falls in rills from the fides of
a rock in the center : many little iflands float -upon its
furface, and move around as the current directs ; fome
of them covered with tables for the banquet; others with
feats for muficians; and others with arbors, containing
beds of repofe, with fophas, feats, and other furniture,
for various ufes.

To thefe Halls of the Moon the Chinefe princes retire,
with their favourite women, whenever the heat and intenfe
light of the fummer's day becomes difagreeable to them;
and here they feaft, and give a loofe to every fort of
voluptuous pleafure.

No nation ever equalled the Chinefe in the fplendor
and number of their Garden ftauctures. We are told,
by Father Attiret, that, in one of the Imperial Gardens
near Pekin, called Yven Ming Yven, there are, befides
the palace, which is of itfelf a city, four hundred
pavilions; all fo different in their architecture, that
each feems the production of a different country. He

E 2 mentions

( 36 )

mentions one of them, that coft upwards oF two
hundred thoufand pounds, exclufive of the furniture;
another, confifting of a hundred rooms : and fays, that
moft of them are fufficiently capacious to lodge the
greateft European lord, and his whole retinue. There
is likewife, in the fame garden, a fortified town, with its
port, flreets, public fquares, temples, markets, fhops,
and tribunals of juftice : in fhort, with every thing that
is at Pekin ; only upon a fmaller fcale.

In this town the emperors of China, who are too
much the Haves of their greatnefs to appear in public,
and their women, who are excluded from it by cuftom,
are frequently diverted with the hurry and buftle of the
capital ; which is there reprefented, feveral times in the
year, by the eunuchs of the palace : fome of them,
perfonating merchants, others artifts, artificers, officers,
foldiers, fhopkeepers, porters, and even thieves and
pickpockets. On the appointed day, each puts on the
habit of his profeflion •, the mips arrive at the port, the
mops are opened, and the goods are offered to fale : tea-

Houfes,

( 37 )

houfes, taverns, and inns, are ready for the reception or
company ; fruits, and all forts of refreshments, are cried
about the ftreets: the fhop-keepers teize the pafTengers
to purchafe their merchandize 5 and every liberty is
permitted : there is no diftindtion of perfons : even the
emperor is confounded in the crowd : quarrels happen —
battles enfue — the watch feizes upon the combatants —
they are conveyed before the judge ; he examines the
difpute and condemns the culprit, who is fometimes very
feverely baftinadoed, to divert his imperial majefty,
and the ladies of his train. Neither are {harpers for-
got in thefe festivals : that noble profeflion is generally
allotted to a good number of the moft dextrous
eunuchs ; who, like the Spartan youths of old, are
punilhed or applauded, according to the merit of their
exploits..

The plantations of their autumnal feenes confift of
many forts of oak, beech, and other deciduous trees that
are retentive cf the leaf, and afford in their decline, a
rich, variegated colouring; with which they blend fome

ever-

( 33 )

cver-greens, fome fruit-trees, and the few fhrubs and
flowers which blofTom late in the year ; placing amongft
them decayed trees, pollards, and dead flumps, of
picturefque forms, overfpread with mofs and ivy.

The buildings with which thefe fcenes are decorated,
are generally fuch as indicate decay, being intended as
mementos to the paffenger. Some are hermitages and
alms-houfes, where the faithful old fervants of the family
fpend the remains of life in peace, amidft the tombs of
their predeceflbrs, who lie. buried around them: others
are ruins of caftles, palaces, temples, and deferted
religious houfes ; or half buried triumphal arches and
maufoleums, with mutilated infcriptions, that once
commemorated tjie heroes of antient times : or they are
fepulchres of their anceftors, catacombs and cemeteries
for their favourite domeftic animals ; or whatever elfe
may ferve to indicate the debility, the difappointments,
and the diffolution of humanity: which, by co-operating
with the dreary afpect of autumnal nature, and the
inclement temperature of the air, fill the mind with
melancholy, and incline it to ferious reflections.

( 39 )

Such is the common fcenery of the Chinefe Gardens,
where the ground has no ftriking tendency to any
particular character. But where it is more ftrongly
marked, their artifts never fail to improve upon its
Angularities : their aim is to excite a great variety of
paflions in the mind of the fpectator; and the fertility of
their imaginations, always upon the ftretch in fearch of
novelty, furnifhes them with a thoufand artifices to"
aceomplifli that aim.

The fcenes which I have hitherto defcribed, are chiefly
of the pleafing kind : but the Chinefe Gardeners have many
forts, which they employ as circumftances vary; all which
they range in three feparate clafTes; and diftinguifh them
by the appellations of the pleaflng, the terrible, and the-
furprizing.

The firft of thefe are compofed. of the gayefl and moft
perfect productions of the vegetable world j intermixed
with rivers, lakes, cafcades, fountains, and water-works
of all forts: being combined and difpofed in all the

picturefque

( 40 )

picturefque forms that art or nature can fuggeft.
Buildings, fculptures, and paintings arc added, to give
fplendor and variety to thefe compofitions ; and the
rareft productions of the animal creation are collected,
to enliven them : nothing is forgot, that can either
exhilerate the mind, gratify the fenfes, or give a fpur to
the imagination.

Their fcenes of terror are compofed of gloomy woods,
deep vallies inacceflible to the fun, impending barren
rocks, dark caverns, and impetuous cataracts rufhing
down the mountains from all parts. The trees are ill
formed, forced out of their natural directions, and
feemingly torn to pieces by the violence of tempefts :
fome are thrown down, and intercept the courfe of the
torrents; others look as if blafted and mattered by the
power of lightening : the buildings are in ruins ; or half
confumed by fire, or fwept away by the fury of the
waters: nothing remaining entire but a few miferable
huts difperfed in the mountains ; which ferve at once to
indicate the exiftence and wretchednefs of the inhabitants.

Bats,

( 4* )

Bats, owls, vultures, and every bird of prey flutter in
the groves ; wolves, tigers and jackalls howl in the
forefts ; half-famifhed animals wander upon the plains ;
gibbets, croffes, wheels, and the whole apparatus of
torture, are feen from the roads ; and in the moll: difmal
receffes of the woods, where the ways are rugged and
overgrown with poifonous weeds, and where every object
bears the marks of depopulation, are temples dedicated
to the king of vengeance, deep caverns in the rocks, and
defcents to gloomy fubtcrraneous habitations, overgrown
with brufhwood and brambles; near which are infcribed,
on pillars of ftone, pathetic defcriptions of tragical
events, and many horrid ads of cruelty, perpetrated
there by outlaws and robbers of former times : and to
add both to the horror and fublimity of thefe fcenes,
they fometimes conceal in cavities, on the fummits of
thehighefl mountains, founderies, lime-kilns, and glafs-
works ; which fend forth large volumes of flame, and
continued clouds of thick fmoke, that give to thefe
mountains the appearance of volcanoes.

Th

eir

( 42 )

Their furprizing, or fupernatural fcenes, are of the
romantic kind, and abound in the marvellous ; being
calculated to excite in the mind of the fpectator, quick
fucceflions of oppofite and violent fenfations. Sometimes
the pafTenger is hurried by fteep defcending paths to
fubterraneous vaults, divided into ftately apartments,
where lamps, which yield a faint and glimmering light,
difcover the pale images of antient kings and heroes,,
reclining on beds of ftate ; their heads are crowned with
garlands of liars, and in their hands are tablets of moral
fentences : flutes, and foft harmonious organs, impelled
by fubterraneous waters, interrupt, at ftated intervals,
the filence of the place, and fill the air with folemn
facred melody.

Sometimes the traveller, after having wandered in the
duik of the foreft, finds himfelf on the edge of precipices,,
in the glare of day-light, with cataracts failing from the
mountains around, and torrents raging in the depths
beneath him ; or at the foot of impending rocks, in
gloomy vallies, overhung with woods: or on the banks of

dull

( 43 )

dull moving rivers, whofe mores are covered with
fepulchral monuments, under the made of willow,
laurel, and other plants, facred to Manchew, the Genius
of Sorrow.

His way now lies through dark paffages cut in the
rocks, on the fides of which are receffes, filled with
ColofTal figures of dragons, infernal furies, and other
horrid forms, which hold, in their monfrrous talons,
myiterious, cabaliftical fentences, infcribed on tables of
brafs ; with preparations that yield a conftant flame ;
ferving at once to guide and to aftonifh the pafTenger:
from time to time he is furprized with repeated fhocks
of electrical impulfe, with mowers of artificial rain, or
fudden violent gulls of wind, and inftantaneous explofions
of fire ; the earth trembles under him, by the power of
confined air ; and his ears are fucceflively ftruck with
many different founds, produced by the fame means ;
fome refembling the cries of men in torment; fome the
roaring of bulls, and howl of ferocious animals, with
the yell of hounds, and the voices of hunters; others

F 2 are

( 44 )

are like the mixed croaking of ravenous birds ; and others
imitate thunder, the raging of the fea, the explofion of
cannon, the found of trumpets, and all the noife of war.

His road then lies through lofty woods, where ferpents
and lizards of many beautiful forts crawl upon the ground,
and where innumerable apes, cats and parrots, clamber
upon the trees, to intimidate him as he paffes j or through
flowery thickets, where he is delighted with the finging
of birds, the harmony of flutes, and all kinds of foft
inftrumental muflc : fometimes, in this romantic ex-
cursion, the pafTenger finds himfelf in fpacious receffes,
furrounded with arbors of jefTamine, vine and rofes ;
or in fplendid pavilions, richly painted and illumined by
the fun : here beauteous Tartarean damfels, in loofe
tranfparent robes, that flutter in the fcented air, prefent
him with rich wines, or invigorating infufions of Ginfeng
and amber, in goblets of agate ; mangoftans, anana?-,
and fruits of Quangfl, in balkets of golden filagree; they
crown him with garlands of flowers, and invite him to
tafte the fweets of retirement, on Perflan carpets, and
beds of camufathfkin down,

( 45 )

Thefe enchanted fcenes always abound with water-
works, fo contrived as to produce many furprizing effects 3
and many fplendid pieces of fcenery : amongft which,
their Kiao-king, or water-palaces, are the moil extra-
ordinary ; they confift of many colonades, arcades,
galleries and open cabinets, formed of fmooth meets
and jets of fair water, artfully riling or falling over
grounds of different coloured glafs, or over innumerable
lamps, which, varying the tint's of the liquid, give to
the ftructures the appearance and luftre of diamond^
fapphire, emerald, ruby, amethift and topaz.

Air is likewife employed with great fuccefs, oa
different occasions ; not only for the purpofes above-
mentioned, but alfo to form artificial and complicated
echoes : fome repeating the motion of the feet ; fome
the ruftling of garments; and others the human voice,
in many different tones : all which are calculated to
embarrafs, to furprize, or to terrify the paffenger in his
progrefs.

All

( 4* )

All forts of optical deceptions are alfo made ufe of;
fuch as paintings on prepared furfaces, contrived to vary
the reprefentations as often as the fpedtator changes place :
exhibiting, in one view, groupes of men; in another,
combats of animals; in a third, rocks, cafcades, trees
and mountains ; in a fourth, temples and colonades ;
with a variety of other pleaiing fubjects. They likewife
contrive pavements and incrustations for the walls of
their apartments, of Mofaic work, compofed of many
pieces of marble, feemingly thrown together without
order or defign ; which, when ken from certain points
of view, unite in forming lively and exact reprefentations
of men, animals, buildings or landfcapes : and they
frequently have pieces of architecture, even whole
profpects in perfpective; which are formed by introducing
temples, bridges, vefTels, and other fixed objects, leiTened
as they are more removed from the points of view, by
giving greyifh tints to the distant parts of the com-
position ; and by planting there trees of a fainter colour,
and f mailer growth, than thofe that ftand on the fore
ground : thus rendering considerable in appearance,
what in reality is trifling.

( 47 )

The Chinefe Artifts employ in thefe enchanted fcenes,
the vendezhang *, the ever-moving poplar, the pau-luf,
with all kinds of fenfitive and other extraordinary trees,
plants and flowers. They keep in them a furprizing
variety of monftrous birds, reptiles, and animals, which
they import from diftant countries, or obtain by croffing
the breeds. Thefe are tamed by art j and guarded
by enormous dogs of Tibet, monftrous dwarfs, and
African giants, in the habits of Eaftern magicians*

They likewife have amongft the plantations, cabinets,
in which are collected all the extraordinary productions
of the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms; as well
as paintings, fculptures, medals, antiquities, and ingenious

* The Vendezhang is a native of Siam ; it bears flowers of an agreeable
fmell, which, when they open, are of divers colours, as red, yellow, white
and black ; the fruit, when it comes to maturity, has the exact refemblance
of a wild duck.

t The Pau-lu is a tree very common in Bengal, and fome parts of China j
to which the large Indian bats have a particular attachment, in fo much, that,,
during day-light, they almoft cover its branches, hanging upon them in
clutlers, like fruit.

inventions-

( 48 )

Inventions of the mechanic arts : which are a frem fource
of entertainment, when the weather is bad, or when the
heat is too intenfe to admit of being in the open air.

The communications to the different fcenes and other
parts of the Chinefe Gardens, are by walks, roads, bridle-
ways, navigable rivers, lakes, and canals ; in all which
their artifts introduce as much variety as poffible ; not
only in the forms and dimenfions, but alfo in their
decoration: avoiding, neverthelefs, all the abfurdities with
which our antient European ftyle of Gardening abounds.

" I am not ignorant," faid one of their artifts, " that
" your European planters, thinking Nature fcanty in her
" arrangements, or being perhaps difgufted with the fa-
" miliarity and commonnefs of natural objects, introduce
artificial forms into their plantations, and cut their
trees in the fhapes of pyramids, flower-pots, fifties,
cc and birds. I have heard of colonades, and whole
u palaces, formed by plants, cut as precifely as if they
" had been built of (lone; and of huntfmen, horfes,

(C

<( t

" dogs,

( 49 )

<c dogs, boars and tigers, in full fpeed, made of yew and
" holly. But this is purchafing variety at the expence
<c of reafon : fuch extravagancies ought never to be
*c tolerated, excepting in enchanted fcenes: and there
" but very feldom ; for they mud be as destitute of
" beauty, as they are of propriety ; and if the planter be
" a traveller, and a man of obfervation, he can want no
" futh helps to variety, as he will recollect a thoufand
<c beautiful effects along the common roads of the countries
" through which he has paffed, that may be introduced
t; with much better fuccefs."

Their roads, walks and avenues, are either directed in
a fingle ftraight line, twilled in a crooked one, or carried
zig-zag by feveral ftraight lines, altering their courfe at
certain points. They obferve, that there are few objects
more ftrikingly great than a fpacious road planted on each
fide with lofty trees, and ftretching in a dired: line, beyond
the reach of the eye; and that there are few things more
varioufly entertaining, than a winding one ; which
opening gradually to the fight, difcovers at every ftep,

G a new

( SO J

a new arrangement : and although, in itfelf, it has not
the power of railing violent emotions, yet, by bringing
the paffenger fuddenly or unexpectedly to great or
uncommon things, it occafions ftrong impreflions of
furprize and aftonifhment, which are more forcibly felt,
as being more oppofite to the tranquil pleafure enjoyed
in the confined parts of the road: and, in fmall com-
pofitions, they find crooked directions exceedingly ufeful
to the planter, who, by winding his walks, may give art
idea of great extent, notwithflanding the narrownefs of
his limits.

They fay, that roads which are compofed of repeated
ftraight lines, altering their directions at certain points,
have all the advantages both of crooked and ftraight ones,
with other properties, peculiar to themfelves. The variety
and new arrangement of objects, fay they, which prefent
themfelves at every change of direction, occupy the mind
agreeably : their abrupt appearance occafions furprize ;
which, when the extent is vaft, and the repetitions
frequent, fwells into aftonifhment and admiration : the

incertitude

( 5i )

incertitude of the mind where thefe repetitions will end,
and its anxiety as the fpe&ator approaches towards the
periods, are likewife very ftrong impreflions ; preventing
that ftate of languor into which the mind naturally finks,
by dwelling long on the fame objects.

The ftraight dire&ions, particularly the zig-zag, are,
on account of thefe effects, well adapted to avenues or
high roads, which lead to towns, palaces, bridges, or
triumphal arches ; to cafHes or prifons, for the reception
of criminals ; to maufoleums ; and all other works of
which the intent is to infpire horror, veneration or
aftonifhment. To humbler obje&s, the waving line is
a more proper approach ; the fmallnefs of their parts
rendering them unfit for a diftant infpedtion : and as
they are trifling in themfelves, they pleafe moft when
their appearance is unexpected ; and from the very point,
whence all their little beauties are feen in the higheft
luftre.

In difpofing the walks of their Gardens, the Chinefe
Artifts are very attentive to lead them fucceflively to all

( 5* )

the principal buildings, fine profpects, and other in-
terefting parts of the compofition ; that the paffenger
may be conducted infenfibly, as it were by accident,
and without turning back, or feeming to go out of the
way, to every object deferving notice.

Both their flraight and winding walks are, in fome
places kept at a confiderable diftance from each other,
and feparated by clofe planted thickets, to hide all
exterior objects ; as well to keep the paffenger in fufpenfe
with regard to the extent, as to excite thofe gloomy
fenfations which naturally fteal upon the mind, in
wandering through the intricacies of a fblitary foreft. In
other places the walks approach each other ; and the
thickets growing gradually lefs deep, and more thinly
planted, the ear is {truck with the voices of thofe who
are in the adjacent walks ; and the eye amufed with a
confufed fight of their perfons, between the Items and
foliage of the trees : infenfibly again the plantations fpread
and darken, the objects difappear, and the voices die in
confufed murmurs j when unexpectedly the walks are

turned

( M >

turned into the fame open fpaces, and the different
companies are agreeably furprized to meet where they
may view each other, and fatisfy their curionty without
impediment.

The Chinefe Gardeners very feldom finiih any of their
walks en cul de fac, carefully avoiding all unpleafant
difappointments : but if at any time the nature of the
iituation obliges them to it, they always terminate at
fome interefHng object; which leffens the difappointment,.
and takes off the idea of a childiin conceit.

Neither do they ever carry a walk round the extremities
ef a piece of ground, and leave the middle entirely opea,
as it is too often done amongft us : for though it mirrht
render the firfr, glance ftriking and noble, they think the
pleafure would be of fhort duration ; and' that the
fpedtator would be but moderately eatertained,., by
walking feveral miles> with the fame objects continually
obtruding upon his fight. If the ground they have to
work upon he fmall, and they choofe to exhibit a grand.

fcene^ ,

( 5+ )

fcene, either from the principal habitation, or any other
capital point, they do indeed leave a great part of the
fpace open ; but {till care is taken to have a good depth
of thicket, which frequently breaks confiderably in upon
the open fpace, and hides many parts of it from the
Ipectator's eye.

Thefe projections produce variety, by altering the
apparent figure of the open fpace from every point of
*yiew ; and by constantly hiding parts of it, they create
a myftery, which excites the traveller's curiofity : they
likewife occafioa, in many places, a great depth in the
thicket, which affords opportunities of making receffes
for buildings, feats, and other objects, as well as for
bold windings of the principal walks, and for feveral
fmaller paths to branch off from the principal ones j all
which take off the idea of a boundary, and furnifh
amulement to the paffenger in his courfe; and as it is
not eafy to purfue all the turns of the different lateral
paths, there is flill fomething left to defire, and a field
ibr die imagination to work upon.

In

r s5 )

In their crooked walks, they carefully avoid all fudderi
or unnatural windings, particularly the regular Terpentine
curves, of which our Engliili Gardeners are fo fond ;
obferving, that thefe eternal, uniform, undulating lines,
are, of all things, the moft unnatural, the moft affected,
and moft tirefome to purfue. Having nature in viewv
they feldom turn their walks, without fome apparent
excufe ; either to avoid impediments, naturally exifting,
or raifed by art, to improve the fcenery. A mountain,
a precipice, a deep valley, a marfh, a piece of rugged
ground, a building, or fome old venerable plant, afford
a ftriking reafon for turning afide ; and if a river, the
fea, a wide extended lake, or a terrace commanding rich
profpedts, prefent themfelves, they hold it judicious to
follow them in all their windings; fo to protract the
enjoyments which thefe noble objects procure: but on a
plain, either open, or formed into groves and thickets., .
where no impediments oblige, nor no curiofity invites to •-
follow a winding path,, they think it abfurd ; faying,
that the road muft either have been made by art, or be
worn by the conftant paffage of travellers : in either of

which, i

( 56 )

which cafes, it cannot be fuppofed that men would go
hy a crooked line, where they could arrive by a ftraight
one. In general, they are very fparing of their twills,
iwhich are always eafy, and fo managed, that never more
lhan one curve is perceptible at the fame time.

They likewife take care to avoid an exact parallelifm
in thefe walks, both with regard to the trees which
Jborder them, and the ground of which they are compofed.
The ufual width given to the walk, is from eight to
twenty, or even thirty feet, according to the extent of
the plantation: but the trees, on each fide, are, in
many places, more diftant ; large fpaces being left open,
which are covered with grafs and wild flowers, or with
fern, broom, briars, and underwood.

The ground of the walk is either of turf or gravel ;
neither of them finishing exa&ly at its edges, but run-
ning fome way into the thickets, groves or fhrubberies,
on each fide, in order to imitate nature more clofely ;
.and to take off that difagreeable formality and fliffhefs,

which

( 57 )

which a contrary practice occasions in our European
plantations.

In their ftraight roads or walks, when the extent is
vaft, the Chinefe Artifts obferve an exact order and fym-
metry ; faying, that in ftupendous works, the appearance
of art is by no means difgufting; that it conveys to
posterity inftances of the grandeur of their anceftors ;
and gives birth to many fublime and pleating reflections.
The imperial roads are aftonifhing works of this nature:
they are compofed of triple avenues, adorned with four
rows of enormous trees; generally Indian chefnuts, fpruce
firs, mountain cedars, and others of formal fhapes; or oaks,
elms, tulips, and others of the largeft growth, planted at
proper regular distances ; and extending in ftraight lines,
and almofx on a perfect level, two, three, even four hun-
dred miles. The center avenues are from one hundred
and fifty, to two hundred feet wide; and the lateral ones,
are generally from forty to fifty feet; the fpreading
branches of the trees forming- over them a natural
umbrella, under which the travellers pafs, at all times
of the day, unmolefted by the fun.

H

( S* )

In fome places thefe roads are carried, by lofty vaulted
paflages, through the rocks and mountains ; in others,
upon caufeways and bridges, over lakes, torrents, and
arms of the Tea; and in others, they are fupported, be-
tween the precipices, upon chains of iron, or upon
pillars, and many tire of arcades, over villages, pagodas,
and cities : in fhort, no difficulty has been attended to
in their conftru£tion ; but every obftacle has been con^-
quered with amazing induftry, and at an almoft incredible
expence.

There are, in different parts of China, many works
of the kinds juft mentioned ; but amongfl: the moft'con-
fiderable, are counted the Paffage of King-tong, the
Bridges of Fu-cheu, thofe of Svven-chew and Lo-yang,
with the Cientao, in the province of Xenfi.

The firft of thefe is a communication between two
precipices, compofed of twenty enormous chains of iron,
each two hundred feet in length, which are covered with
planks and earth, to form the road*

The

( 59 )

The fecond is a clufter of bridges between Fu-cheu
and Nanti, uniting various iflands, that divide the river
into different ftreams : the principal of thefe confifts of
one hundred arches, of a fufficient fize for the pafTage of
fhips under full fail ; it is built of large blocks of hewn
ftone, and enclofed with a magnificent marble baluftrade,
the pedeftals of which fupport two hundred Coloffal lions,
artfully cut in the fame material.

The third is a bridge at Swen-chew-fu, built over an
arm of the fea, that fometimes is very boifterous : it is
above three quarters of a mile long, thirty-five feet wide,
and confifts of one hundred and thirty piers, of an
aftonifhing height, upon which are laid vaft blocks, of a
greyiih granite, that form the road.

Eut the largeft and moft furprizing work of the fort,
that yet has been heard of, is the bridge of Lo-yang, in
the province of Fokien : it is compofed of three hundred
piers of black marble, joined to each other by vaft blocks
of the fame material, forming the road, which is enclofed

H 2 with

( 6° )

with a marble baluftrade, whofe pedeftals are adorned
with lions, and other works of fculpture. The whole
length of thebridge is fixteen thoufand two hundred feet,
or upwards of three miles ; its width is forty-two feet ;
and the blocks of which it is compofed, are each fifty-
four feet long, and fix feet diameter.

The Cientao, or Way of Pillars, is a communication
between many precipices, built to fhorten a road to
Pe-king. It is near four miles long, of a considerable
width, and fupported oyer the vallies upon arches and
ftone piers of a terrifying height.

In the mountains, on each fide of thefe imperial roads,
are erected a great number of buildings, furrounded with
cyprefs groves, and adorned with works of fculpture,
which afford conftant entertainment to the paffengers :
thefe are the monuments of their wife men, their faints,
and their warriors, ere&ed at the expence of the ftate,
and furnimed with nervous infcriptions, in the Chinefe
language, giving an account of the lives and actions of

thofe

. ( 6i )

thofe they commemorate : fome of thefe buildings are
distributed into many fpacious courts and ftately apart-
ments, being little inferior to palaces, either in mag-
nificence or extent ; they are furnimed with all kinds of
movables and utenfils, much larger than the common
fize ; and a great number of Coloffal figures are every
where feen, reprefenting officers, foldiers, eunuchs,
faddle-horfes, camels, lions and dogs, all placed in
melancholy attitudes, with countenances expreflive of the
deepeft forrovv.

Inftead of roads, the center avenues are fometimes
formed into navigable canals, from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty feet wide, being fufficiently deep to admit
gallies and other fmall veffels ; with horfe-ways on each
iide of the canals, for the convenience of towing them,
either againft the wind or the ftream. On thefe the
emperor, and Chinefe mandarines, are frequently con-
veyed, in large magnificent fampans or barges, divided
into many fplendid rooms ; being fometimes attended by
a considerable train of fmaller veffels, of different con-

ftruc~tionss

( «» )

Ih-uclions, adorned with dragons, ftreamers, lanterns of
painted filk, and various other ornaments ; the whole
compofing a very brilliant and entertaining fhow.

All the imperial forefts, befides the high roads which
pafs through them, have many fpacious avenues cut in
-the woods, fpreading from different centers, like rays of
flars, and terminating at idol temples, towers, caftles, and
all the interefling objects of the circumjacent country. The
centers from which thefe avenues part, are of a circular
or octagonal figure, with eight avenues; or of a femi-
circular form, with only three branching from them.
Their area is generally very confiderable ; and its middle
is adorned with ti triumphal arch, a pagoda, a magni-
ficent fountain, or fome other confiderable monument.

Where the extent is vaft, each fingle avenue has befides,
In its courfe, one or more open fpaces, from which a
number of fmaller avenues again branch out, and ter-
minate at many buildings, erected in the woods, for
various purpofesj all which, without any confufion, add

to

( 63 J

to the variety and intricacy of thefe compositions ; giving
them an appearance of immenfity not to be conceived,
but by fuch as have feen them : and wherever a deep
valley, a large river, or an arm of the fea, interrupt and
break off the courfe of the avenues, the plantations ars
neverthelefs continued on the oppofite more, in order to*
make them appear more considerable.

In Straight roads, of fmaller dimenfions, the Chinefe
very artfully imitate the irregular workings of nature; fop
although the general direction be a Straight line, yet they
eafily avoid all appearance of StifFnefs or formality, by
planting fome of the trees out of the common line; by
inclining fome of them out of an upright; or by em-
ploying different fpecies of plants, and placing them at
irregular distances, with their Stems fometimes bare, and
at other times covered with honey-fuckles and fweet-
bryar, or furrounded with underwood. They likewife
cut and difpofe the branches of the trees in various
manners : fome being fuffered to fpread, to cover and
made the walks ; whilft others are Shortened, to admit

the

( 6+ )

the fun. The ground too is compofed of rifes and falls ;
and the banks on each fide of the walk are, in fome
places, of a confiderable height, forming hollow ways ;
which they often cover at the top with bufhes and trunks
of fallen trees. Frequently too, the courfe of the walk
is interrupted by a large oak, or elm, or tulipifera,
placed in the middle ; or by a fcreen of trees running
quite acrofs; which, when the part on one fide of the
fcreen is opened and illuminated by the fun, and the part
on the other fide clofe and fhaded, produces a pleafing
contraft.

I have often feen, in China, berceaus and arbors, not
of lattice-work, as in France, but of bamboo, hazel,
and elm ; whofe branches being interwoven at the top,
formed an arch not at all difpleafing to the eye, and
exceedingly ufeful, during the heats of fummer: and to
render thefe cool retreats more agreeable, jefTamine,
fcarlet beans, fweet-fcented peas, granadillas of feveral
forts, nafturtiums, the convulvus major, and many other
kinds of climbers, were planted round the outfide; which,

forcing

" ( 65 )

forcing their way through, enriched the fides and arches
of the walks in a very beautiful manner.

I have likewifc feen, in Chinefe plantations, walks
bordered with the cut yew and elm hedges, fo common
in mod countries of Europe, which the Chinefe Artifts
fometimes admit of, for variety's fake ; but they never
have the ftiff appearance of our European ones : the fhears
are ufed fparingly ; towards the top the branches are
fuffered to fpread unmolefted ; and even in the cut parts
of them are feen large maffes of other plants forcing their
way through ; fuch as the fycamore, the fig, the vine,
and others, vvhofe foliage and verdure are moil oppofite
to thofe of the hedge.

The dimenfions both of their ftraight roads and walks,
vary according to the purpofes they are defigned for ; and,
in fome degree too, according to their length. Roads or
avenues to considerable obje&s, are, as has been obferved,
generally compofed of three parallel walks : that in the
middle being from thirty to one hundred and fifty,

I or

( 66 )

or even two hundred feet wide; thofe on the fides,-
from fifteen to forty. In their Gardens, the principal*
ftraight walks are never narrower than twenty feet ; and
feldom broader than forty-five or fifty : and the fmalleft
are at leaft twelve feet wide. Thirty to thirty-fix feet
is called a fufficient width for a length of two hundred;
yards ; forty to fifty for one of four hundred ; fixty for
one of fix hundred ; and feventy for a length of eight
hundred yards: and when the extent is more than this,
laft dimenfion, they do not tie themfelves up to any
proportion, but encreafe their width as much as they
conveniently can; never, however, exceeding ' one
hundred and fifty, to two hundred feet ; which they
think the utmoft width that can be given, without
rendering, the avenue difproportionate to the trees that
border it-

In the construction of roads and walks, the Chinefe
Gardeners are very expert, and very circumfpecl: : they
never fituate them at the foot of mountains or riling
grounds.* without contriving drains to receive the waters

defcending

( *J )

defcending from the heights, which are afterwards
difcharged by arched gulleys under the roads, into the
plains below; forming, in the rainy feafon, a great
number of little cafcades, that increafe the beauty of the
fcenery. The roads which are deflgned for carriages, they
make as level as poflible ; giving them a folid bottom,
and fhaping them fo as to throw off the rain-waters
expeditioufly : they ufe, as much as poflible, the neareft
materials, to fave expence; and are very judicious in
employing different foils to form mixtures, which never
become either hard or flippery ; never loofe in dry wea»
ther, nor deep in wet; not eafily ground into powder;
nor ever forming a rough flinty furface, difficult and
painful for horfes to move upon.

Their walks are either of grafs, of gravel, or chippings
of ftone, covered with a fmall quantity of coarfe river-
fand. The firft fort, which are feldom ufed but in
private Gardens, they being too liable to be Ipoiled in
public walks, are made of the fined and cleaneft turf
that can be found on downs and commons ; and they are

I 2 kept

( 68 )

kept in order, by frequent mowing, and rolling with
large iron rollers. The fecond fort are made of binding
gravel, laid about fix inches deep, upon the natural
ground ; if it be dry, or if fwampy, upon brick rubbifh,
flint ftones, or any other hard materials, eafieft to be
had : and thefe are alfo kept firm, and in great beauty,,
by being frequently rolled. Thofe of flone are compofed
of gallets, laid about a foot thick, rammed to a firm'
confiftence, and a regular furface; upon which is put a
fufrlcient quantity of river-fand, to fill up all the in-
terftices : this done, the whole is moiftened, and well
rammed again.

Both in their roads and: walks, they are very careful to
contrive fink-ftones, with proper drains and cefs-pools
for carrying off the waters, after violent rains : and to
thofe that are upon defcents, they never give more fall
at the moft than half an inch to every foot, to prevent
their being damaged by the current of the rain-waters.

As China, even in the northern provinces, is ex-
ceedingly hot during fummer, much water is employed

( 69 J

in their Gardens. In the fmall ones, where the Situation?
admits, they frequently lay the greatefl part of the ground-
under water, leaving only fome iflands and rocks; and*
in their large compositions, every valley has its brook or
rivulet, winding round the feet of the hills, and dif—
charging themfelves into larger rivers and lakes. Their
artifls affert, that no Garden, particularly if it be extenfive,
can be perfect, without that element, diftributed in many
fhapes : faying, that it is.refrefhing and grateful to the'
fenfe, in the feafons when rural fcenes are moft frequented ;
that it is a principal fource of variety, from the diveriity
of forms and changes of which it is fufceptible ; and from'
the different manners in which it may be combined with i
other objects ; that its impreilions are numerous,, and'
uncommonly forcible ; and that, by various modifications,. -
it enables the artift to Strengthen the, character of every
composition ; to encreafe the tranquility of the quiet
fcene ; to give gloom to the melancholy, gaiety to the:
pleating,, fublimity to the. great, and horror ta the.:
terxible.

I 7° )

They obferve, that the different aquatic fports of
rowing, failing, fwimming, fiiliing, hunting and com-
bating, are an inexhauftible fund of amufement ; that
the birds and fillies, inhabitants of the water, are highly-
entertaining, efpecially to naturalifts ; and that the boats
or veffels which appear upon its bofbm, fometimes
furioufly impelled by tempefts, at others gently gliding
over the fmooth furface, form, by their combinations, a
thoufand momentary varied pictures, that animate and
embellifti every profpect. They compare a clear lake,
in a calm funny day, to a rich piece of painting, upon
which the circumambient objects are reprefented in the
highefr, perfection ; and fay, it is like an aperture in the
world, through which you fee another world, another
fun, and other ikies.

Theyalfo remark, that the beauty of vegetable nature
.depends, in a great degree, upon an abundant fupply of
water; which, at the fame time that it produces variety
and contrail in the fcenery, enriches the verdure of the
lawns, and gives health and vigor to the plantations.

Their

( H )

Their lakes are made as large as the ground will admit y
feme feveral miles in circumference: and they are fo
fhaped, that from no fingle point of view all their ter-
minations can be feen; fo that the fpectator is always
kept in ignorance of their extent. They interfperfe in
them many iflands ;, which ferve to give intricacy to the
form, to conceal the bounds, and to enrich the fcenery;
Some of thefe are very fmall, fufrlcient only to contain
one or two weeping willows, birch, larch, laburnum, or
fome other pendant plants, whofe branches hang over the
water; but others are large, highly cultivated, and en-
riched with lawns, fhrubberies, thickets, and buildings:
or they are rugged, mountainous, and furrounded with
rocks and fhoals; being covered with fern, high grafs,
and fome .ftraggling large trees, planted in the vallies :-
amongfl which are often feen flalking along the elephant,
the tin-hyung or man bear, the rhinoceros, the dro-
medary, the oftrich, and the fin-fin or black giant
baboon.

There are other iflands, raifed to a confiderable height;,,
by a fucceflion of terraces, communicating with each other

{ 72 )

hy -various flights of magnificent fteps. At the angles of
all thefe terraces, as well as upon the fides of the fteps,
are placed many brazen tripods", that fmoke with incenfe;
and upon the uppermost, platform is generally ere&ed a
lofty tower for agronomical obfervations ; an elegant
temple, filled with idols ; the Coloffal ftatue of a god ;
or .fame other eonfiderable work : ferving, . at the fame
time, .as an ornament to the Garden, and as an object
to the wliole country.

They alfo introduce in their lakes large artificial rocks,
-built of a particular fine coloured ftone, found on the
fea-coafis of China, and defigned with much tafte.
Thefe are pierced with many -openings, through which
you difcover diftant profpeds: they have in them caverns
for the reception of tortoifes, crocodiles, enormous water-
ferpents, and other monfters ; with cages for rare aquatic
birds ; and grottos, divided into many Alining apartments,
adorned with marine produdions, and gems of various
forts. They plant upon thefe rocks all kinds of grafs,
.creepers and fhrubs, which thrive in fuch fituations, as

mofs,

( 73 )

mofs, ground-ivy, fern, ftone-crop, common houfe-leek,
and various other forts of the fedum, crane's-bill, dwarf
box, rock rofes and broom; with fome trees rooted into
the crevices : and they place on their fummits, her-
mitages and idol temples, to which you afcend by many
rugged, winding fteps, cut in the rock.

But far the moft extraordinary, as well as the mod
pleafing of their aquatic conftru&ions, are the Hoie-ta,
•or fubmerged habitations, confirming of many galleries,
cabinets, and fpacious halls, built entirely under water ;
their walls are decorated with beautiful {hells, corals,
and fea-plants of all forts, formed into many fingular
ihapes, and funk into various irregular receffes ; in which
are placed, in due order, Fung-fhang, God of the Winds;
Bong-hoy, Monarch of the Sea ; Shu~kong, King of the
Waters ; with all the inferiour powers of the deep. The
pavements are laid in compartments of jafper, agat, and
madrepores of Hay-nang, of many extraordinary kinds :
the ceilings are entirely of glafs, which admits the light
through the medium of the water, that rifes feveral feet

K above

( 74 )

above the fummits of thefe ftructures; the glafs is of
various bright colours, very ftrong ; and the different
pieces, artfully joined, to refill the preffure of the fluid
with which they are loaded. The ufe of thefe habitations,.
is the fame as that of the Miao-ting, before defcribedt
they are reforted to, in very hot weather, to feaft and to
enjoy ; and it is Angularly entertaining, in the intervals
of pleafure, to obferve,. through the eryftal ceilings, the.
agitation of the waters, the paffage of veffels, and fports
of the fowl and fifhes, that fwim over the fpectator's
heads*

On the borders of their lakes are feen extenfive
porticoes, and many detached buildings, of different
forms and dimenfions, accompanied with plantations,,
fea-ports with fleets of veffels lying before them, forts
with flags flying, and batteries of cannon ; alfo., thickets
of flowering ffirubs, meadows covered with cattle, corn,
lands, cotton and fugar plantations, orchards of various.
fruit-trees, and rice grounds, which project into the
lakes ; leaving, in the midft of them, paffages for boats i.

and3

< 75 )

and, in fome places, the borders conflfl of lofty woods,

with creeks or rivers for the admiffion of veffels, whofe

banks are covered with high grafs, reeds, and wild

Spreading trees, forming clofe gloomy arbours, under

which the veffels pafs. From thefe arbours are cut many

viftas through the woods, to diftant profpects of towns,

bridges, temples, and various other objects, which fuc-

ceffively ftrike the eye, and fill the mind with expectation ;

when fuddenly a farther progrefs is rendered impracticable,

by rocks, ftrong branches, and whole trees lying crofs the

channel ; between which the river is feen ftill to continue,

with many iflands ; whereon, and alfo in the water,

appear the remains of antient ftructures, monumental

infcriptions, and fragments of fculpture: which ferve to

give an edge to curiofity, and to render the difap-

pointment more affecting.

Sometimes too, inftead of being intercepted in your
paffage, the veflel, together with the whole river, are,
by the impetuofity and particular direction of the current,
hurried into dark caverns, overhung with woods 3 whence,

K 2 after

( 76 )

after having been furioufly impelled for fome time, yon
are again difcharged into day-light, upon lakes encom-
paffed with high hanging woods, rich profpects on
mountains, and ftately temples, dedicated to Tien-ho*.
and the celeftial fpirits..

Upon their lakes, the Chinefe frequently exhibit fea-
fights, proceffions, and fhip-raees; alfo fire-works and.
illuminations : in the two laffc of which they are more
fplendid, and more expert than the Europeans. Oa
fome occafions too, not only the lakes and rivers, but all
the pavilions, and every part of their Gardens, are illur-
minated by an incredible number of beautiful lanterns, of
a thoufand different fhapes, intermixed with lampions,,
torches,, fire-pots, and fky-rockets ; than which a more
magnificent fight cannot be feen, Even the Girandola,,
and illumination of St. Peter's of the Vatican, though
far the moil fplendid exhibitions of that fort in Europe,
are trifles, when compared to thefe of China*

At the feaft of Lanterns, in particular, all China is
illuminated, during three days: it feems as if the whole

( 77 )

empire were on fire; every perfon lights up a number
of painted lanterns, of various beautiful forms ; fome-
times of horn, glafs, or mother of pearl, but mod com-
monly framed of wood, carved, varnifhed and gilt, upon
which is flrained thin filk, painted with flowers, birds
and human figures, that receive an uncommon brilliancy
from the number of lights within: fome there are likewife
made like our magic lanterns, reprefenting,. by coloured
fhadows, (hips failing, armies marching, horfes galloping,
and birds flying : others are full of puppets, reprefenting
mountebanks, buffoons,, boxers, wreftlers and dancers,
which are moved by imperceptible threads, the actions
being accompanied by the voice of the operator, modified
in different manners; all fo conformable to the fize and
geftures of the* figures, that they feem really tofpeak.

There are likewife lanterns made in the form of
tigers, dromedaries, and dragons of an enormous fize j
which are painted in tranfparency, and filled with lights:,
thefe are moved about the ftreets by men concealed within
them, who. artfully give to the machine Qvcry motion of

ths?

C 78 )

t£he animal it reprefents; others there are feen floating
-upon the lakes and rivers, built like boats and vefTels of
various kinds, or fhaped like dolphins, alligators and
porpufes, that fwim and curvet upon the water ; others
again that refembie birds fluttering amongft trees, or
perdhed on the fummits of the houfes, on all parts of
their temples, triumphal arches, and public ftructures of
different kinds : in fhort, there is fcarcely any form that
can be imagined, which is not given to fome of thefe
lanterns,; all executed with the greatest tafte and neat-
nefs, often at a very considerable expence ; fome even to
the amount of a thoufand tael, or near three hundred and
fifty pounds.

It is likewife upon this feftival that the moft fplendid
of their fire-works are exhibited : it would be tedious to
defcribe them particularly, as they refembie, in many
things, our European ones; but what is related on that
head, by one of the miilionaries, is curious, and may
here be inferted, to give the reader an idea of Chinefe
ikill, in works of this fort.

" I was

f 79 )

" I was extremely furprized," fays the father, " at a
f( fire-work which I faw at Pe-king, reprefenting an
" arbor of vines : it burnt for a very confiderable time*
"without confuming; the grapes were red, the leaves
<{ green, and the colour of the ftem and branches varie-
" gated, in imitation of nature ; all the forms were
" reprefented, with the utmoft precifion, in fires of
" different colours ; the whole was executed with,.
<f amazing art, and had the mod pleafing effe&i
<{ imaginable*"

Their rivers are feldom ftraight, but winding, and
broken into many irregular points i, fometimes they are
narrow, noify and rapid ; at other times deep, broad and
flow. Their banks are variegated, in imitation of nature ..:
being, in fome places, bare and gravelly; in others,
covered with woods quite to the water's edge; now flat
and adorned with flowers and fhrubs ; then fleep, rocky,
and forming deep winding caverns, where pigeons of the
wood, and water-fowl build their nefts; or rifing into*
many little hills,, covered with hanging groves; betweera

whiebc.

( 8o )

-which are vallies and glades watered by rivulets, and
adorned with pleafure-houfes, cottages, and ruftic tem-
-ples; with flocks of fheep and goats feeding about them.
The terminations of rivers the Chinefe Artifts hide either
in woods, or behind hills and buildings; or they turn
them under bridges, direct them into caverns, or lofe
themamongO: rocks and fhoals.

Both in their lakes and rivers are feen many kinds of
reeds, and other aquatic plants and flowers; ferving for
ornament, as well as for covert to their birds. They
-erecl: upon them mills and other hydraulic machines,
wherever the iituation will permit. They introduce a
great many fplendid veffels, built after the manner of all
nations; and keep in them all kinds of curious and beau-
tiful water-fowl, collected from different countries.

Nor are they lefs various and magnificent in their
bridges than in their other decorations. Some they build
of wood, and compofe them of rough planks, laid in a
rufKc manner upon large roots of trees: fome are made

of

( Si )

of many trunks of trees, thrown rudely over the ftream;
and fenced with decayed branches, intertwined with the
convulvulus, and climbers of different forts : forne are
compofed of vaft arches of carpentry, artfully and
neatly framed together. They have alfo bridges of ftone
and marble, adorned with colonades, triumphal arches,
towers, loggias, fifhing pavilions, ftatues, bas-reliefs,
brazen tripods, and porcelain vafes. Some of them are
upon a curve, or a ferpentine plan ; others branching
out into various directions : others ftraight, and fome at
the conflux of rivers or canals, are made triangular, qua-
drilateral or circular, as the fituation requires; with pa-
vilions at their angles, and bafons of water in their centers,
adorned with yets d'eauy and fountains of many forts.

Of thefe bridges fome are entire, and executed with
the utmoft neatnefs and tafle ; others feem in ruins;
others are left half fini'fhed, being furrounded with fcaf-
folds, machines, and the whole apparatus of building.

It is natural for the reader to imagine, that all thefe
bridges, with the pavilions, temples, palaces, and other

L

( 82 )

ftru&ures, which have been occasionally defcribed in the
courfe of this work, and which are fo abundantly {bat-
tered over the Chinefe Gardens, mould entirely diveft
them of a rural character, and give them rather the
appearance of fplendid cities, than fcenes of cultivated
vegetation. But fuch is the judgment with which the
Chinefe Artifts fituate their ftrudlures, that they enrich
and beautify particular profpetts, without any detriment
to the general afpeft of the whole composition, in which
Nature almoft always appears predominant ; for though
their Gardens are full of buildings, and other works of
art, yet are there many points from which none of them
appear : and more than two or three at a time are feldom
difcovered ; fo artfully are they concealed in vallies,
behind rocks and mountains, or amongft woods and
thickets.

There are, however, for variety's fake, in moft of the
Chinefe Gardens, particular places, confecrated to fcenes of
an extraneous nature; from whence all, or the greateft part
of the buildings are collected into one view, riilng above

each

( «3 )

each other in amphitheatrical order, fpreading out to a con-
fiderable extent; and, by their whimfical combinations,
exhibiting the'moft magnificent confufion imaginable.
Their artifts knowing how powerfully contrail agitates
the human mind, lofe no opportunity of practicing fudden
tranfitions, or of difplaying flrong oppofitions, as well
in the nature of the objects which enter into their cora-
pofition, as in their modifications. Thus they conduct
you from limited profpects to extenfive views; from places
of horror to fcenes of delight ; from lakes and rivers to
woods and lawns ; and from the fimplefl arrangements
of nature, to the mofl complicated productions of art.
To dull and gloomy colours, they oppofe fuch as are
brilliant ; and to light, they oppofe darknefs : rendering,
by thefe means, their productions not only diflindt in the
parts, but alfo uncommonly finking in their total effect.

The cafcades of the Chinefe, which are always intro-
duced, where the ground admits, and where the fupply
of water is fufficient, are fometimes regular, like thofe of
Marli, Frefcati and Tivoli; but more frequently they are

L 2 rude,

( 84 )

rude, like the falls of Trolhetta and the Nile. In one
place, a whole river is precipitated from the fummit of
the mountain, into the vallies beneath ; where it foams
and whirls amongft the rocks, till it falls down other
precipices, and buries itfelf in the gloom of impenetrable
forefta: in another place, the waters burfl: out with
violence from many parts, fpouting a great number of
cafcades, in different directions j which, through various
impediments, at laft unite, and form one vaft expanfe
of water. Sometimes the view of the cafcade is in.
a great meafure intercepted by the branches which'
hang over it ; or its paffage is obstructed by trees,
and heaps of enormous ftones, that feem to have been
brought down by the fury of the torrent : and frequently:
rough wooden bridges are thrown from one rock to
another, over the fteepeft parts of the cataract ; narrow;
wmding paths are carried along the edges of the pre-
cipices ; and mills and huts are fufpended over the.
waters; the feeming dangerous fituation of which, adds'
to the horror of the fcene.

Th

ey

{ H )

They have likewife cafcades, contrived to fill from

precipices, in large regular fheets, fmooth as glafs, and

forming arches, that leave a considerable fpace between

the rocks and the water. This is laid out in fine pebble

walks, adorned with grafs plots, and borders of flowers

of every fort,, that thrive in moift fituations ; and. in the

upright of the rocks are hollowed grottos, with many

little neat receffes, placed at different heights, and com^

municating with each other by fteps or paffages cut in

the folid ftone, from whence the cafcades, when illumined

by the fun, appear like a multitude of rainbows, glittering

with a thoufand colours ; and the adjacent trees, buildings

or other objefts, feen through the brilliant medium, have

a very uncommon, picturefque effect.

As the Chinefe are fo very fond of water, their Gar-
deners endeavour to obtain it by art, wherever it is denied
by Nature. For this purpofe, they have many ingenious
inventions to collect; and many machines, of fimple
conftru&ion, which raife it to almoft any level : at a trifline:
expence. They ufe the fame method for overflowing

rallies* .

( 86 )

vallies, that is pra&ifed in Europe; by forming heads of

earth or mafonry at their extremities : where the foil is

too porous to hold water, they clay the bottom, in the

fame manner that we do to make it tight : and in order

to prevent the inconveniences arifing from ftagnant waters,

they always contrive a confiderable difcharge to procure

motion, even where the fupply is fcanty ; which is done

by conveying the difcharged water back, through fub-

terraneous drains, into refervoirs; whence it is again raifed

into the lake or river. They always give a confiderable

depth to their waters, at leaft five or fix feet, to prevent

the rifing of fcum, and the floating of weeds upon

the furface ; and they are always provided with fwans,

or fuch other birds as feed on weeds, to keep them

under.

In overflowing their grounds, and alfo in draining
them, they take all pofllble care not to kill many of
their old trees, either by over moiftening their roots, or
draining them too much ; faying, that the lofs of a fine
old plant is irreparable ; that it impairs the beauty of the

adjacent

( «7 )

adjacent plantations ; and often likewife deftroys the effect
of the fcenery, from many diflant points of view : and
in fhaping their grounds, they are, for the fame reafon,
equally cautious with regard to the old plantations;
carefully obferving never to bury the ftems, nor to expofe
the roots of any trees which they mean to preferve.

In their plantations, the Cliinefe Artifts do not, as is
the practice of fome European Gardeners, plant indif-
criminately every thing that comes in their way ; nor do
they ignorantly imagine, that the whole perfection of
plantations confifts in the variety of the trees and fhrubs
of which they are compofed : on the contrary, their
practice is guided by many rules, founded on reafon
and long obfervation, from which they feldom or ever
deviate.

" Many trees, fhrubs and flowers," fayeth Li-Tfong,
a Chinefe author of great antiquity, " thrive beft in low
" moift fituations; many on hills and mountains: fome
" require a rich foil ; but others will grow on clay, in

" fand,

' ( 88 )

c< fand, or even upon rocks j and in the water : to fome
" a funny expofition is neceffary; but for others, the
•" fhade is preferable. There are plants which thrive
<c beft in expofed Situations ; but, in general, fhelter is
" requifite. The fkilful Gardener, to whom ftudy and
<c experience have taught thefe qualities, carefully attends
<c to them in his operations; knowing that thereon
" depend the health and growth of his plants ; and
<c confequently the beauty of his plantations."

In China, as in Europe, the ufual times of planting
are the autumn and the fpring ; fome things anfwering
beft when planted in the firft, and fome in the laft of
thefe feafons. Their Gardeners avoid planting, whenever
the orounds are fo moift as to endanger the rotting of
the roots ; or when the frofts are fo near as to pinch the
plants, before they have recovered the mock of tranf-
plantation ; or when the earth and air are too dry to
afford nurture to them.; or when the weather is fo
tempeftuous as -to make or overturn them3 whilft loofe
-and unrooted in the ground.

They

( 89 )

They obferve, that the perfection of trees for Orna-
mental Gardening, confifts in their fize ; in the beauty
and variety of their forms, the colour and fmoothnefs of
their bark, the quantity, fhape, and rich verdure of their
foliage ; with its early appearance in the fpring, and long
duration in the autumn; likewife in the quicknefs of their
prowth, and their hardinefs to endure the extremities
of heat, cold, drought or moifture; in their making no
litter, during the fpring or fummer, by the fall of the
bloffom; and in the ftrength of their branches, to refltt,
unhurt, the violence of tempefts.

They fay, that the perfection of flirubs confifts not
only in moft of the above mentioned particulars, but
alfo in the beauty, durability, or long fuccelTion of their
blojffbm ; and in their fair appearance before the bloom,
and after it is gone.

" We are fenfible," fay they, " that no plant is
<c poffefTed of all good qualities ; but choofe fuch as have
'** the feweft faults; and avoid all the exoticks, that vege-

M " tate

" tate with difficulty in our climate ; for though they
" may be rare, they cannot be beautiful, being always
<c in a fickly ftate: have, if you pleafe, hot-houfes and
" cool-houies, for plants of every region, to fatisfy the
" curiofity of botanifts ; but they are mere infirmaries ::

M

" the plants which they contain, are valetudinarians,
" diverted of beauty ana vigour ; which only exift by the
" power of medicine, and by dint of good nurflng."

Amongft their favourite trees, is the weeping willowy
which they cultivate with great care, and plant near all
their lakes, rivers, fountains, and wherever elfe it can
be introduced with propriety: dwarf kinds of it are
raifed in pots, for the apartments; and their poets
have often celebrated its beauties in verfe. There is
both a French and Engliih tranflation extant of one of
thefe poems ; which, with the original, is here inferted3
for the infpection of the curious *.

* Lon li hhoang y te ku fhi Neune fle pe theon ine iou ki

Jao ine fiou fha iao thao hhoa Hhoamoechouang hiaakhivon fzea

I tiene fhine hhene iou hiene hhoa Ju ho pou tai tehune tfane fzeu

Ki toane giou hhoene pou foane ki Je ie chi chi tzeu thon fhi, ■

( 9i )

The exceffive variety of which fome European Gar-
deners are fo fond in their plantations, the Chinefe artifts
blame; obferving, that a great diverfity of colours, foliage,
and direction of branches, muft create confufion, and
deftroy all the maiTes upon which effect and grandeur
depend: they obferve too, that it is unnatural; for, as
in Nature moft plants fow their own feeds, whole forefta
are generally compofed of the fame fort of trees. They
admit, however, of a moderate variety; but are by

" A peine la faifon du printems eft venue, que le faule couvre d'une robe
" verte la couleur jaune de fon bois. Sa beaute fait honte au pecher, qui de
44 depit arrache les fleurs qui le parent, et les repand fur la terre ; 1' eclat des
*' plus vives couleurs ne peutfe comparer anx graces fimples et touchantes de
" cet arbre. II previent le printems, et fans avoir befoin du vers-a-foye, il
K revet fes feuilles et fes branches d'un duvet veloute que cet infecte n'a
M point file."

Scarce dawns the genial year: its yellow fprays
The fprightly willow cloaths in robes of green:
Blufhing with fhame the gaudy peach is feen ;

She fheds her blofibms and with fpleen decays.

Soft harbinger of fpring! what glowing rays,
What colours with thy modefl charms may vie ?
No filk-worm decks thy fhade; nor could fupply

The velvet down thy fliining leaf difplays.

M 2 no

( 92 )

no means promifcuous in the choice of their plants :
attending, with great care, to the colour, form, and
foliage of each ; and only mixing together fuch as har-
monize and affemble agreeably.

They obferve, that fome trees are only proper for thick-
ets; others, only fit to be employed fingly ; and others,
equally adapted to both thefe fituations. The mountain-
cedar, the fpruce and filver firs, and all others whofe
branches have a horizontal direction, they hold im-
proper for thickets: becaufe they indent into each
other ; and likevvife cut difagreeably upon the plants
which back them. They never mix thefe horizontal
branched trees with the cyprefs, the oriental arbor vitas,
the bambu, or other upright ones; nor with the larix,
the weeping willow, the birch, the laburnum, or any
of a pendant nature ; obferving, that the interfe&ion of
their branches forms a very unpitturefque kind of net-
work : neither do they employ together the catalpha and
the acacia, the yew and the willow, the plane and the
fumach, nor any of fuch heterogeneous forts; but on

the

( 93 )

the contrary, they afTemble in their large woods, the
oak, the elm, the beech, the tulip,, the fycamore,
maple and plane, the Indian chefnut, the tong-fhu * and
the weftern walnut, the arbeal, the lime, and all whofe
luxuriant foliages hide the dire&ion of their branches ;
and growing in globular maffes, aiTemble well together;
forming, by the harmonious combination of their tints^,
one grand group of rich verdure.

In their fmaller plantations, they employ trees of a^
fmaller growth, but of the fame concordant forts ;
bordering them with Perlian lilacks, gelder-rofes,
feringas, coronillas or fennas of various forts, flowering
rafberries, yellow jeffamine, hypericum or St. John's
wort, the fpir&a frutex, altheas, rofes, and other flow-
ering fhrubs peculiar to China; fuch as the moli-wha,
the quey-wha, the lan-wha, and the wen-quang-fhu ;
intermixed with flowers, and with the tallow-tree and
padus of various fpecies, the tfe-tang or rofe-tree3

* Tong-lhu, a kind of wallnui peculiar to China, from which a fine oil is
extracted*

elder.

( 94 )

elder, mountain afh. amr-is, double bloflbmed thorn,
and many other forts of flowering trees : and wherever
the ground is bare, they cover it with white, blue,
purple and variegated periwinkle, the convuivulus minor,
dwarf flocks, violets, primrofes, and different kinds of
creeping flowers; and with ftrawberries, tutfen and ivy,
which climbs up and covers the {terns of the trees.

In their fhrubberies they follow, as much as poflible,
the fame rules ; obferving farther, to plant in fome of
them, all fuch fhrubs asflourifh at one time; and in fome,
fuch as fucceed each other : of which different methods
the firft is much the moft brilliant ; but its duration is
fhort ; and the appearance .of the fhrubbery is generally
fhabby, as foon'as the bloom is off: they therefore feldom
ufe it, but for fcenes that are to be enjoyed at certain
periods ; preferring the la ft, on other occafions, as being
of long duration, and lefs unpleafing after the flowers are
gone.

The Chinefe Gardeners do not fcatter their flowers
indifcriminately about their borders, as is ufual in fome

<■ 95 )

parts of Europe, but difpofe them with great circum-
fpeclion ; and, if I may be allowed the expreffion, paint
their way very artfully along the fkirts of the plantations:
or other places, where flowers are to be introduced.
They reject all that are of a ftraggling growth, of harfh
colours, and poor foliage; choofing only fuch as are of
fome duration, grow either large, or in clufters, are of
beautiful forms, well leaved, and of tints that harmonize
with the greens that furround them. They avoid all
fudden tranfltions, both with regard to dimenfion' and
colour; riling gradually from the fm all eft flowers to
holli-oaks, pceonies, fun-flowers, carnation-poppies, and
others of the boldeft growth ; and varying their tints,
by eafy gradations, from white, ftraw- colour, purple
and incarnate, to the deepeft blues, and moft brilliant
crimfons and fcarlets. They frequently blend feveral
roots together, whofe leaves and flowers unite, and
compofe one rich harmonious mafs; fuch as the white
and purple canditufr, larkfpurs, and mallows of
various colours, double poppies, loopins, primrofes, pinks
and carnations; with many more of which the forms

and

( 9« )

and colours accord with each other : and the fame
method they ufe with flowering fhrubs; blending white,
red, and variegated rofes together; purple and white
lilacks ; yellow and white jelTamine ; altheas of various
forts; and as many others, as they can with any pro-
priety unite.— By thefe mixtures they encreafe con-
siderably the variety and beauty of their compofitions.

In their large plantations, the flowers generally grow
in the natural ground: but in flower-gardens, and
all other parts that are highly kept, they -are in pots,
buried in the ground; which, as faft as the bloom goes
off, are removed, and others are brought to fupply their
places; fo that there is a conftant fuccefiion, for almoft
every month in the year ; and the flowers are never feen,
but in the height of their beauty.

Amongft the mofl interesting parts of the Chinefe
plantations, are their open groves ; for as the women
fpend much of their time there, care is taken to fltuate
them as pleafantly as poflible, and to adorn them with
all kinds of natural beauties.

( 97 )

The ground on which they are planted, is commonly
uneven, yet not rugged : either on a plain, raifed into
many gentle fwellings; on theeafy declivity of a mountain,
commanding rich profpe&s ; or in vales, furrounded with
woods, and watered with fprings and rivulets. Thofe
which are in an open expofure, are generally bor-
dered with flowery meadows, extenfive corn-fields, or
large lakes ; the Chinefe Artifts obferving, that the
brilliancy and gaiety of thefe objedts, form a pleafing
contraft with the gloom of the grove : and when they
are confined in thickets, or clofe woods, the plan-
tations are fo contrived that, from every approach,
fbme part of the grove is hid ; which opening gradually
to the eye of the paffenger, fatisfies his curioiity by
degrees. . -

Some of thefe groves are compofed of evergreens,
chiefly of pyramidal forms, thinly planted over the
furface, with flowering fhrubs fcattered amongft them :
others confift of lofty fpreading trees, whofe foliage affords
a fhady retreat during the heat of the day. The plants

N are

< . 9* )

are never crowded together; fufficient room being left
between them for fitting or walking upon the grafsj
which, by reafon of its fhady fituation, retains a conftant
verdure; and, in the fpring, is adorned with a great
variety of early flowers, fuch as violets, crocus's, poli-
anthus's and primrofes; hyacinths, cowflips, fnow-drops,
daffodils and dairies. Some trees of the grove are fuffered
to branch out from the very bottom of the ftem upwards -x
others, for the fake of variety, have their items bare; but
far the greater number are furrounded with rofe-trees,.
fweet-briar, honey-fucklesy fcarlet beans, nafturtiums,,
everlafting and fweet-fcented peas', double-blofTomed
briar, and other odoriferous fhrubs, which beautify the
barren parts of the plant, and perfume the air.

Sometimes too their open groves are compofed of
lemon, orange, citron, pompelmofe, and myrtle-trees;
which, as the climate varies, either grow in the earth,
or in buried tubs and pots, that are removed to green-
houfes during the winter. They alfo have groves of all
forts of fine formed fruit-trees ; which, when they blofibm,

or

( 99 )

or when their fruit is ripe, are exceedingly beautiful: and
to add to the luxuriance of thefe fcenes, the Chinefe
Artifts plant vines of different coloured grapes near many
of the trees, which climb up their ftems, and afterwards
hang in feftoons from one tree to another.

In all their open groves are kept young broods of
pheafants, partridges, pea-fowls, turkies, and all kinds
of handfome domeftic birds, who flock thither, at certain
times of the day, to be fed : they alfo retain in them, by
the fame method, fquirrels, pe-che-li cats, fmall monkies,
cockatoos, parrots, hog deer, fpotted capritos, lambs,
Guinea pigs, and many other little beautiful birds and
animals.

The trees which the Chinefe Gardeners ufe in their
open groves, and alfo for detached trees, or groupes of
two, three, or four together, are the mountain-cedar, the
fpruce, filver,and balm of Gilead firs, thelarix, the fmooth
ftemmed pine, the arbor vita?, and cyprefs ; the weeoino-
willow, the u-kyew-mu *, the birch, the am, the maple,

* The tallow-tree, which fomewhat refembles the birch.

( 100 )

the wcftern walnut, arbeal, tulip, acacia, oak, elm, am!
all others that grow in picturefque forms : and whenever
they loofe their natural fhape, either by too quick vege-
tation, or other accidents, they endeavour to reduce them
to an agreeable form, by lopping off their exuberances;
or by forcing them into other directions. The Indian,
or horfe-chefnut, the lime, and fome others of a ffiff,
formal growth, they never ufe detached ; but find them,
on account of their rich verdure, their bloiTom, and
abundant foliage, very fit for thickets, woods and
avenues.

They have particular plants for the dreffed gay parts cf
the Garden; others in their wilds and fcenes of horror;
and others appropriated to monuments and ruins; or to
accompany buildings of various fcrts ; according as their
properties fit them for thefe different purpofes.

In planting, they are nicely attentive to the natural
fize of their plants; placing fuch as are of humble
growth in the front ; and thofe that are higher, gradually

inwards :

( K*I )

inwards: that all may be expofed to' view at the fame
time. They appropriate certain plants to low moift
fituations; and others to thofe that are dry and lofty;-
flridly attending therein to Nature: for though a willowy
fay they, may grow upon a mountain, or an oak in a-
bog, yet are not thefe by. any means natural fituations-
for either.

When the patron' is rich, they confider" nothing' but
perfection in their plantations : but when he is poor,
they have alfo an eye to oeconomy ; introducing fuch
plants, trees and buildings, into their defign, as are noG
only beautiful, but ufeful. Inftead of lawns, they have
meadows and fields, covered with fheep and other cattle;
or lands planted with rice and cotton, or fowed with
corn, turneps, beans, peafe, hemp, and other things
that produce flowers, or variegated pieces of colouring.
The groves are compofed of all ufeful kinds of fruit-
trees ; fuch as apple, pear, cherry, mulberry, plumb, apri- -
cot, pomegranate, fig, olive, and filbert, with the tfe-tfe,
li-chi, long-yew, tfin-lan, and many others,- peculiar to

China,

( I02 )

China. The woods are full of the tong-fhu *, the wha-
tfyau +, the tfi-fliu | and pela-fhu §, with the tye-li-mu ||,
the nang-mu**, the tfe-tangf-f, and other common
timber-trees, ufeful for fuel or building; which alf©
produce chefnuts, walnuts, acorns, and many profitable
fruits or feeds : both the woods and groves abound with
game of all forts.

The mrubberies confift of fong-lo, vu-i, and mau-
cha XX > dwarf mulberry, cotton, rofe, rafberry, bramble,
currant, lavender, vine and goofberry bufhes ; with
barberry, elder, peach, nectarine and almond trees. All
the walks are narrow, and carried under the drip of the
trees, or Ikirts of the plantation, that they may occupy
no ufefwl ground : and of the buildings, part are barns
for grain or hay ; part ftables for horfes and oxen ; fome
are dairies, with their cow-houfes and calf-pens ; fome
cottages for the hufbandmen, with fheds for implements

* A fpecies of the walnut-tree. - + The pepper- tree. J The varniih-tree.
§ The wax-tree. () Iron wood. ** The Chinefe cedar, faid never to decay,
ft The rofe-tree. % J Different fpecies of the tea fhrub.

of

( I03 )

of hufbandry ; others again are dove-houfes ; menageries
for breeding poultry ; or ftovcs and green-houfes, for
railing early rare fruits, vegetables and flowers: all
judicioufly placed, and designed with tafte, though in a
ruftic ftyle.

The lakes and rivers are well ftored with fifii and
water-fowl ; all the veiTels are contrived for fifhing,,
hunting, and other fports that are profitable as well as
entertaining j and in their borders they plant, inftead of
flowers, fweet herbs, celery, carrots, potatoes, ftrawberriesr
fcarletbeans, nafturtiums, endive, cucumbers, melons, pine-
apples, or other handfome fruits and vegetables ; while all
the lefs Tightly productions for the kitchen, are carefully
hid behind efpaliers of fruit-trees. And thus, they fay,,
every farmer may have a Garden without expence y and5.
that if all land-holders were men of tafte, the world
might be formed into one continued Garden, without
difficulty.

Such is the fubftance of what I have hitherto collected-'
relative to the Gardens of the Chinefe. My endeavour^

( 104 )

an the prefent Publication, has been to give the general
outline of their ftyle of Gardening, without entering into
trifling particulars, and without enumerating many little
rules of which their Artifts occasionally avail themfelves;
being perfuaded that, to men of genius, fuch minute
difcriminations are always unnecefTary, and often pre-
judicial, as they burden the memory, and clog the
imagination with fuperfluous reftrictions.

»

The difpofitions and different artifices mentioned in
the preceding pages, are thofe which are chiefly practifed in
China, and fuch as beft characterize their ftyle of Garden-
ing/ But the Artifts of that country are fo inventive, and
fo various in their combinations, that no two of their
compositions are ever alike : they never copy nor imitate
each other; they do not even repeat their own pro-
ductions ; faying, that what has once been feen, operates
feebly at a fecond infpe&ion ; and that whatever bears
even a diftant refemblance to a known object, feldom
excites a new idea. The reader is therefore not to
imagine that what has been related is all that exifts ; on

the

( ioS )

the contrary, a confiderable number of other examples
might have been produced: but thofe that have been
offered, will probably be fufficient ; more efpecially as
moft of them are like certain compofitions in mufick,
which, though fimple in themfelves, fuggeft, to a
fertile imagination, an endlefs fucceflion of complicated
variations.

To the generality of Europeans, many of the foregoing
defcriptions may feem improbable; and the execution of
what has been defcribed, in fome meafure impracticable:
but thofe who are better acquainted with the Eaft, know
that nothing is too great for Eaftern magnificence to
attempt; and there can be few impoflibilities, where
treafures are inexhauftible, where power is unlimited,
and where munificence has no bounds.

European artifts rauft not always hope to rival Oriental
grandeur: they will feldom find iflands for oftriches, or
forefts for elephants, where property is much divided,
where power is confined, and wealth rare: men of genius

O may

( io6 )

may often conceive more than it is practicable to execute j
yet let them always boldly look up to the fun, and copy
as much of its luftre as they can: circumftances will
frequently obftruft them in their courfe, and they may
be prevented from foaring high ; but their attention
fliould conftantly be fixed on great obje&s, and their
productions always demonstrate, that they knew the road
to perfection, had they been enabled to proceed on the
journey.

Where twining ferpentine walks, digging holes and
crooked ditches for earth to raife mole-hills, fcattering
fhrubs, and ringing never-ceafing changes on lawns,
groves and thickets, is called Gardening; artifts will have
few opportunities of difplaying their talents ; it matters
little there who are the Gardeners; a cabbage planter
may rival a Claude, and a clown outwine a Pouilin :
the meaneft may do the little there is to be done, and
the beft could reach no farther. But wherever a better
ftyle is adopted, and Gardens are to be natural, without
refemblance to vulgar Nature, new without affectation,

and

( 107 )

and extraordinary without extravagance ; where the
fpectator is to be amufed, where his attention is con-
ftantly to be kept up, his curiofity excited, and his
mind agitated by a great variety of opposite paflions,
there parts will be neceffary ; and Gardeners muft be
men of genius, of experience and judgement j quick in
perception, rich in expedients, fertile in imagination,
and thoroughly verfed in all the affections of the human
mind.

FINIS,

A N

EXPLANATORY DISCOURSE,

B Y

TAN CHET-QUA,

O F

Quang-Chew-fu, Gent. FRSS, MRAAP*

ALSO,

MIAAF, TRA, CGHMW and ATT.Q.

WHEREIN

The Principles laid down in the Foregoing

Dissertation, are illuftrated and

applied to Practice.

*p

PREFACE.

iLVERY new fyftem naturally meets with oppofition;
when the monfter Novelty appears, all parties, alarmed
at the danger, unite to raife a clamour : each cavils at
what it doth not like, or doth not comprehend, till the
whole project is pulled to pieces, and the projector ftands
plumed of every feather; not only robbed of the praife
due to his labour and good intentions, but, like a
common enemy, branded with fcorn and abufe. In the
firft hurry of criticifm, every deviation is accounted an
error; every fingularity an extravagance; every difficulty
a vilionary's dream : warm with refentment, biaffed by
interests and prejudices, the angry champions of the
old, rarely £how mercy to the new ; which is almoft
always invidiouily confidered, and too often unjuftly
condemned.

Senfible

ii2 PREFACE.

Senfible of thefe difficulties, the Author of the fore-
going Differtation, written in direct oppofition to the
ftream of fafhion, harboured no fanguine hopes of fame
from his Publication : far from expecting at the firft,
either applaufe or encouragement, he even judged
artifice necefTary to fcreen him from refentmentj and
cloathed truth in the garb of fiction, to fecure it a
patient hearing.

The fuccefs of his little work, however, in one fenfe,
far exceeded expectation : at its firft appearance here, it
found not only a patient, but a very indulgent reception;
and it has fince been equally fortunate in France, and
other parts of Europe ; where Monfieur Delarochette's
elegant tranllation has made it known.

Yet flattering as this extenfive fuffrage may feem, it
is in reality rather mortifying to the Author ; who finds,
from the nature of the encomiums beftowed upon his
Performance, that it has been more generally liked than
underftood ; and that, whilft a few have honoured it

with

PREFACE. 113

with a deliberate reading, and feparated the fubftance
from the vehicle in which it was contained, far the
greater number have miftaken the mafk for the reality 9
and confidered it fimply as a pleafing tale ; as the mere
recital of a traveller's obfervation ; or, as the luxuriant
effufions of a fertile imagination, a fplendid picture of
vifionary excellence*

Whether thefe mi-fapprehenfions arofe from want of
perfpicuity in the writer, or want of attention in the
readers, admits of no difpute ; the former was mofl
probably the cafe. The Author therefore, who wimes
to be perfectly understood, and is more ambitious of
being ufeful than entertaining, humbly begs leave to
offer, at the end of this fecond edition, fuch reafons and
explanations as feem neceffary, either to remove doubts^
or clear obfeurities ; he flatters himfelf they will be found
fufficient, and ferve to place the work in its true, its mofl
advantageous light.

Of thefe illuftrations he faw the neceffity fome time
ago, and framed them into a Difcourfe fuppofed to be-

P

H4 PREFACE.

pronounced by Chet-qua, then in England; judging it,
at that time, a fort of propriety to put in the mouth of
a Chinefe, what farther information was wanted relative
to his country.

But as there is now no longer any necemty for difguife,
both the DifTertation and Explanatory Difcourfe ought
certainly to appear in their natural drefs. To new-model
them, however, would require more time than the Au-
thor can pofTibly fpare ; he therefore has republished the
DiiTertation, in its original form, and the Difcourfe as it
was originally written ; hoping the indulgent reader will
pardon thefe defects, and gather the fruit, if there be
any to gather, without minding the trees on which it

STOWS.

o

INTRO-

Introdu&ion,

x\LL the world knew Chet~qua, and how he was born
at Quang-chew-fu, in the fourth moon of the year
twenty-eight; alfo how he was bred a face-maker, and
had three wives, two of whom he carefled very much;
the third but feldom, for (he was a virago, and had large
feet. He drefTed well, often in thick fattin; wore nine
whifkers and four long nails, with filk boots, callico
breeches, and every other ornament that Mandarins are
wont to wear; equalling therein the prime macarones,
and fcavoir vivres, not only of Quang-chew, but even
of Kyang-ning, or Shun-tien-fu. Of his fize; he was.

Quang- chew fu — Canton." For JBewas a iirago> end had targe fee?; — Both'
which are accounted great defects in China. NineicbijZers,&c. — Allbeaus wear
whifkers in China; and all gentlemen long nails, to fhew that they are idle,
Kjang-ning, or Nang-king — Capital of Kyang-nang. Shun-tienfu — Peking,

P 2 a well.

( u6 )

a well-fpoken portly man, for aChinefe; a pretty general
fcholar; and, for a heathen, a very compleat gentleman.
He compofed a tieh-tfe, or billet-doux, at pleafure;
recited verfes, either in Mantchou or Chinefe, and fung
Jove-fongs in many languages. He likewife danced a
fandango, after the neweft tafte of Macao, played
divinely upon the bag-pipe, and made excellent remarks;
which, when he lodged at Mr. Marx's, in the Strand, he
would repeat to his friends over a pipe, as often as they
pleafed ; for .he was fond of fmoaking, provided the
tobacco was good ; and, upon thefe occaflons, was
always vaftly pleafant, and very communicative.

Amongft his favourite topics were painting, mufic,
architecture and gardening; to the laffc of which he
feemed moft affected, often differting thereon till he was
tired, and the audience fa ft aileep ; for the tone of his
voice was like opium to the hearers j his method was
diffufe, and the fubject, though a good one, not generally
ititereftiiig.

One

( II? )

One day he launched out Into a long defcriptiori of
the Eaftern Gardens, efpecially thofe of his own country,
to which he was exceedingly partial ; and, in the con-
clufton, compared them to a fplendid feaft, at which
there were pleafures for every fenfe, and food for every
fancy ; whilft our Gardens, he faid, were like Spartan
broth, which was difguftful to all but Spartan palates ;
or like the partial niggardly treats of the fable, adapted ,
only to organs of a peculiar conftru&ion : he advanced
many other odd pofitions, fpoke very freely, as well of
our Gardeners, as Gardens, and ended recommeading
the Chinefe tafte, in preference to all others.

We were diverted with the difcourfe, from its Angularity,
and the variety of new ideas in which it abounded ; yet
as it ran in direct opposition to the general opinion and
ufage of England, and recommended a fyftem which
appeared to us rather viiionary than practicable, we ani-
madverted upon all its parts with the utmoft freedom ;
neither fparing the fpeech nor fpeaker in any particular.

The

k ( n8 )

The feverity of our criticifm at firft difconcerted poor
Chet-qua, who remained filent, and in apparent confufion;
but, after a fhort paufe, he reaffumed his ufual good
humour, his countenance cleared up, hearofe, bowed to-
the company, and flroking his nine whifkers, began the
following difcourfe.

DISCOURSE, &a

Tan lott ty tchan yue, Ou yim king tal pan

Ko ou, pou ho cboue. Foufou teou la ty

1 F, in the hurry and warmth of fpeaking, Chet-qua has-
ufed expreffions that feemed difrefpe6tful, or inadvertently
ftarted notions that appeared extravagant, as you, Gen-
tlemen, are pleafed to ajfrert, it is more than he intended j

'Tan lou ty tchan yue, &c. — The motto which Chet-qua has made choke of'r
is part of a poem written by Kien-long, reigning emperor of China, in praife
of drinking tea: and publifhed, by his imperial edict, bearing date the
twelfth day, of the ninth moon, of the thirteenth year of his reign; in thirty-two.
different types, or characters; under the infpe&ion of Yun-lou, and Houng-

yen,

C I19 )

Iiis fole aim at this meeting, has been to point out a ftyic
of Gardening preferable to your's ; and to (hew how
much more may be done in that Art, than has hitherto
been thought on, by your or any other European nation :

to

yen, princes, by the title of Tfin-ouang; Fouheng, grandee, by the title of
Taypao; Count, by the title of Valiant ; and firft prefident of almoft all the
great tribunals of the empire : whofe deputies were Akdoun and Tfing-pou,
grandees, by the title of Tay-tfee Chaopao ; and thefe were again aflifted by
Ifan, Fouki, Elguingue, Tetchi, Mingte, Tfoungmin, Tchangyu, Tounmin,
and about a dozen other mandarines of rank and reputation •, fo that there
is no doubt but the work is. perfectly correct. Here follows the exact copy
of it, with an Englilh tranflation, for the entertainment and inflruction of the
curious in poetry. There is a French tranflation of the fame work, by Father
Amiot, publifhed at Paris, in 1770, from which the prefent Publication is
in a great meafure taken; the Editor having found it eafier to tranflatc
from the French copy, than from the Chinefc original.

Mei-hoa che pou yao Yue ngueou po fien jou, LankuTchao-tchcoungan

Fo-cheou hiang tfie kie, Tan lou ty tchan yue, P6 fiao Yu-tchouan kiu

Soung-chc ouei fang ny ; Ou yun king tai pan Han fiao ting fing leou

San pin tchou tfing kue; Koou, pou ko choue. Kou yue kan hiuen tfuc,

Pong y tche kio tang, Fou fou teou lo ty Joan pao tchen ki yu

Ou tche tchengkoang hiue Ho ho yun kiang tche Tfiao king fing ou kie,

Houo heou pien yu hie, Ou-tfuen y ko tfan Kien-long ping-yn

Ting yen y cheng rnie. Lin fou chang che pie. Siao, tchun yu ty.

TRANSLATION.

( 120 )

to enumerate impoffibilities, or amufe an audience with
golden dreams and glittering fhadows, would anfwer no
ufeful purpofes ; and could, therefore, neither be the
bufinefs nor intention of Chet-qua, who* fpeaks not for

the

TRANSLATION..

The colours of the Mei-hoa are never brilliant, yet is the flower always
pleafing : in fragrance or neatnefc the £o-cheou has no equal : the fruit of the
pine is aromatick, its odour inviting. In gratifying at once the fight, the
fmell and the tafte, nothing exceeds thefe three things: and if, at the fame
time, you put, upon a gentle fire,, an old pot, with three legs, grown black
and battered with length of fervice, after having firft filled it with the limpid'
water of melted fhow •, and if, when the water is heated to a degree that will
boil a fifh, of redden a lobfter, you pour it directly into a cup made of the
earth of yue, upon the tender leaves of fuperfine tea; and if you let it reft
there, till the vapours which rifes at firft in great abundance, forming thick
clouds, difiipate by degrees, and at laft appear merely as^ a flight mift upon>
the furface ; and if then you gently Pip this delicious beverage, it is labouring,
effectually to remove the five caufes ©f difcontent which ufually difturb our
quiet : you may feel, you may tafte, but it is impofiible to defcribe the fweet
tranquillity which a liquor, thus prepared, procures.

Retired,, for fame fpace of time, from the tumults of bufinefs, I fit albne
in my tent, at liberty to enjoy myfelf unmolefted : in one hand holding a*
fo-cheou, which I bring nearer to my nofe, or put it farther off, at pleafure j
in the other hand holding my difh, of tea, upon which forne pretty curling
vapours Hill appear : I tafte, by intervals the liquor ; by intervals, I confides

the

( 121 )

the pleafure of fpeaking, nor with a defire of tickling
the ear, hut with the hope of being ferviceable ; he
laments his want of perfpicuity, to which alone your

the mei-hoa — I give a fillip to my imagination, and my thoughts are naturally
turned towards the fages of antiquity. — I figure to myfelf the famous Ou-tfuen,
whole only nourilhment was the fruit of the pine ; he enjoyed himfelf in quiet,
amidfl this rigid frugality ! I envy, and wiih to imitate him. — I put a few of
the kernels into my mouth ; I find them delicious.

Sometimes, methinks, I fee the virtuous Lin-fou, bending into form, with
his own hands, the branches of the mei-hoa- chou. It was thus, fay I to myfelf,
that he relieved his mind, after the fatigues of profound meditation, on the
moft interefting fubjects. Then I take a look at my fhrub, and it feems as if I
were ailifting Lin-fou, in bending its branches into a new form. — I fkip from
Lin-fou to Tchao-tcheon, or to Yu-tchouan •, and fee the firft in the middle of
a v-aft many tea-cups,, filled with all kinds of tea, of which he fometimes taftes
one, fometimes another; thus varying incefiantly his potation: while the
fecond drinks, with the profoundefl; indifference, the bed tea, and fcarcely
dillinguifhes it from the vileft fluff. — My tafte is not their's ; why fhould I
attempt to imitate them ?

But I hear the found of the evening bell ; the frefhnefs of the night is
augmented ; already the rays of the moon ftrike through the windows of my
tent, and with their luftre brighten the few moveables with which it is adorned.
I End myfelf neither uneafy nor fatigued ; my ftomach is empty, and I may,

without fear, go to reft. It is thus that, with my poor abilities, I have

made thefe verfes, in the little fpring of the tenth moon of the year Ping-yn,
of my reign Kien-lang.

Q^ mifap-

( 122 )

mifapprehenfions muft be imputed; and begs leave to
trefpafs on your patience a few moments longer, to
explain himfelf more clearly, and endeavour to remove
your prejudices againft him.:

He is forry to have been under a neceflity of cenfuring-,
even in a diftant manner, what feemed to him imperfect
amongft you ; but whoever would be inftrumental in the
advancement of fcience, muft declare his mind freely,
and fometimes enforce his precepts by examples that
exift: his obfervations have been as general as the fubjecl:
would permit ; for it is never his inclination to give
offence; yet where truth is to be inveftigated, the truth
muft necefTarily be told ; elfe little or no progrefs can;
ever be made : where men play the fycophants, and-
tacitly fuffer, or meanly applaud, what they do not
approve ; no amendment can ever be expected.

It is true, that diiTentions in opinion, however well
meant, will often bear an invidious afpect, and always
muft offend fome interefted individuals ; yet, to the

community,

( 123 )

community, they are generally advantageous, and mould
always be favourably received, as they give birth to new
difcoveries, and ultimately point out the higheft per-
fection : had no man ever ventured to difTent from his
neighbour, our age would be as dark as were thofe of
Fo-hii, Shing tong, or Whoang-tii ; and I am firmly
perfuaded, that your Englifli Gardening would now have
been much more perfect, had any one ever dared to dif-
pute its excellence: but to diffent, is an unthankful
bufinefs; a dangerous tafk, that Ccw have fpirits to
undertake, particularly where party-rage is violent, as it
now and then feems to be amongft you. — But I come to
the point.

In China, our large Gardens are obtained at an almoft
incredible expence, and attended with many incon-
veniencys : amongft you, whofe policy, whofe manners
are totally different from ours, they might often be had
at a moderate charge, and without much trouble j for

Fo-hii, Shing- tongy or Whoang-tii— -Some of the firft emperors of China;
who invented the eight qua's, together with the kay-tfe, and created colaus.

Q^ 2, formidable

< "4 )

formidable as they may at firft appear, it is certain that
mod of their fcenery is eaiily executed, when proper
opportunities occur, which is frequently the cafe in.
Europe, particularly in England; where your illuflrious
families have large domains ; where agriculture is neater
and more various than in other countries; and where
the face of nature is in general more luxuriant ; as well
as better contrafted.

It is natural enough for a Granger to be dazzled with
the fplendor of our Oriental plantations; upon a curfory
infpecrion, to conclude them too vafr, too magnificent,
too expenfive for European imitation; and that, in your
part of the world, the greater! princes fhould not be
indulged with fuch articles of luxury, calculated, as they
feem, to exhauft their treafures, wafte their lands, rob
and opprefs their fubje&s: but a more attentive examination-
will probably give birth to more favourable opinions, and
ferve to prove, that not only your princes, but even your
private gentlemen, may emulate us in this particular very
fafely ; and that our ftyle of Gardening may be adopted

amongft

( I25 )

amongfl: you, even in its whole extent, without being
attended with any of the inconveniences jufl nov/
recited.

It is not the fence that conflitutes the Garden 5
Cobham, Stourton, Blenheim, would ftill be what
they are, though the pales or walls by which they are
enclofed were taken away : neither is privacy neceflary
to the efTence of a Garden; for Richmond and Kew are-
finely the fame, when open to all the world, as when
they are only acceiTible to the Royal Family ; nor iss
ufeful or profitable culture incompatible with the idea3-
either of our Chinefe, or your Englifh. Gardening.

Any trad: of land, therefore, whofe cnara&eri/lick
expreffions have been ftrengthened by art, and in which1
the fpontaneous arrangements of nature have been cor^
reeled, improved and adorned by the hand of tafte
ought to be coniidered as a Garden, though only fenced
with common hedges, and although the roads or paths
paiTing through it be publick, and the grounds of which
it is compofed cultivated to the utmoft advantage.

( 126 )

There remains then no obftacle to your rivalling the
Chinefe, either in the grandeur or extent of their Gardens:
in which, you feem to fix, the infuperable difficulties of
the imitation j fince you have parks, forefts, manors and
royalties, fome even in private hands, more extenfive than
is neceflary; and fince thefc may be fo improved, and
converted into gardens upon the plan now mentioned,
without wade of land, without invafion of property,
without annoyance or feclufion of the public, and cer-
tainly with lefs damage or expence to the owner, than
are ufually incurred in the article of your common Gar-
dening; as no chargeable keeping or fencing would be
neceffary, no grounds unprofitably employed, no con-
siderable afiiftance from art wanted: for the features of
real nature, being in themfelves generally more perfect,
as well as greater than the finell imitations, require very
few helps ; feldom any that are expenfive.

Every artift, therefore, who has the fortune to meet
with patrons of large poflefiions, and liberal fentiments,
may give full fcope to his imagination, and boldly apply

whatever

( 127 )

whatever he has feen, heard, or his own fancy may have
fuggefted, that is great, extraordinary, or furprifing : in-
ftead of confining his views to a {e\v acres, to form a
trifling compofition, fcarcely fuperior to the defert at a
feftival ; and which, infignificant as it would be, none
but the healthful and vigorous could ever fee; he may
convert a whole province into a Garden ; where the
Spectator, inftead of toiling on foot, as ufual, to fee a
few nothings, and performing more revolutions than a
horfe in a mill, may wander over a whole country at his
eafe, in mips or in barges, in carriages or on horfe-back,
feafting the fight with fcenes of the boldert dimensions, ,
and contemplating the luxuriant varied productions of
Nature, improved and nobly enriched by Art,

And permit mc to fay, that Gardens of this fort, .
would not only be more magnificent, but alfo much
more beautiful and perfect in every refpecl, than any
even amongft the beft of your artificial performances.
In the great ftyle of Gardening, neatnefs is not only
fuperfluous, but destructive of the principal intent : the

common-

( 128 )

^common roads, bridleways and paths, of a country,
however wild, are always preferable to the {tiff, formal,
made walks of a Garden; they are, in themfelves,
grander, more natural, and may, with a very little
ailiftance; a few accompanyments, be made as com-
modious, as rich, as varied, and as pleafant.

Fields covered with corn, turneps, beans, potatoes,
temp, or productions of a iimilar nature; meadows,
pafture lands, hop grounds, orchards, and other parts
of Englifh culture ; interwoven with common hedges, or
blended with accidental plantations, require little, if
any afliftance from Art, to be more pidturefque than
lawns the moil curioufly dotted with clumps; and villages,
country churches, farm-houfes or cottages, when placed
with judgement, and deiigned with tafle, enrich and
adorn a landfcape as well as more expensive flructures.

The rivers of Nature flow in forms that Art can never
equal : their natural modifications, particularly in
mountainous places, are fuificiently numerous; a little

management

( 129 )

management heightens or diminifhes all their expreflions,
varies their appearances, and adapts them to fcenes of
any character : their banks are foon adorned, even in the
richeft manner ; for rofes, a thoufand other flirubs, and
mod perennial flowers, will grow as eafily, and with as
little culture, as primrofes and briars do. A few of
thefe, a little planting properly employed, and blended
with rural buildings, bridges, ruins, monumental urns,
and other trifling decorations, fpread over the whole
an appearance that equals, even furpafTes the moft
elaborate cultivation.

In every large tract of land, there generally are fome
places abundantly fupplied with water, which often flows
through uncouth marfhy bottoms of little ufe or value to
the owner: by raifing heads at their extremities, thefe
are eafily overflowed ; and lakes of very considerable
dimenfions may thus be obtained, often without much
trouble, always with great advantages, as well in point
of profit as of pleafure j and wherever it may be neceflary
to dig, in order to give a proper depth to the water, the

R earth

( *3° )

earth may be raifed into iflands of various fhapes, which
ferve to complicate the forms, to enrich and beautify
the fcenery.

Though woods, from various caufes, are now more
rare than heretofore amongft you, yet are there, in moPc
parts, fome frill remaining; their natural beauties are
many, and little more is left for art to do in them, than
to form roads, to thin or thicken them occaiionaHy ;
where it may be wanting, to interfperfe, amongft the
plantations, a few proper fhrubs and flowers ; to open
recelTes, and to decorate them with objects ; this done3,
they will be infinitely fuperior, in every refpeft,, to any
of the gaudy trifling confufed plantations with which all
your Englifh-made Gardens are fo crouded;

England abounds with commons and wilds, dreary,-
barren, and ferving only to give an uncultivated ap-
pearance to the country, particularly near the metropolis:
to beautify thefe vaft tra6fo of land, is next to an im-
poftibility ; but they may eaiily be framed into fcenes of

terror,

( i3i )

terror, converted into noble pictures of the fublimeft call:,
and, by an artful contraft, ferve to enforce the effect of
gayer and more luxuriant profpects.

On fome of them are feen gibbets, with wretches
hanging in terrorem upon them ; on others, forges,
collieries, mines, coal tracts, brick, or lime kilns, glafs-
works, and different objects of the horrid kind : what
little vegetation they have, is difmal ; the animals that
feed upon it, are half-famifhed to the artift's hands ;
and the cottagers, with the huts in which they dwell,
want no additional touches, to indicate their mifery : a
few uncouth ftraggling trees, fome ruins, caverns, rocks,
torrents, abandoned villages, in part confumed by fire,
folitary hermitages, and other fimilar objects, artfully
introduced and blended with gloomy plantations, would
compleat the afpect of defolation, and ferve to fill the
mind, where there was no poffibility of gratifying the
fenfes.

In profecuting a plan of this extenfive nature, many
other opportunities would prefent themfelves to the able

( 132 J

artift, of dignifying nature, and of heightening his com-
positions with all the force of novelty and grandeur;
flone quarries, chalk pits, mines, might as eafily be
framed into vaft amphitheatres, ruftic arcades and
peryftiles, extenfive fubterraneous habitations, grottos,,
vaulted roads, and paiTages, as into other fhapes; hills
might, without much difficulty, be transformed into
flupendous rocks, by partial incruftations of (tone,
judicioufly mixed with turf, fern, wild fhrubs and foreft
trees; gravel pits, or other fimilar excavations, might be
converted into the moft romantic fcenery imaginable, by
the addition of fome planting, intermixed' with ruins,
fragments of fculpture, infcriptions, or any other little
embellifhments ; and, in fhort, there would be no
deviation, however trifling, from the ufual march of
nature, but what would fuggefl, to a fruitful imagination,
fome extraordinary arrangement, fomething to difguife
her vulgarity, to roufe the attention of the fpecTator, and
to excite in his mind a fucceffion of ftrong and opposite
ienfations*

It

( *3'3 )

It is thus that far the noblefr. part of our Chinefe
Garden?, and thofe which at firft fight appear mod im-
practicable, may be obtained even amongfi: the common
difpofitions of Englifli nature; and the great might thus
have pleafure-grounds, extenfive and extraordinary as
thofe of the Eaft, without any very confiderable expence :
men of lefs note would naturally imitate i'heir fuperiors^
by embellishing their poflefiions in the fame manner;
and inftead of fpending large fums to fence and to lard a
little field with twigs, to give it the name of a Garden^
they would beautify their whole eftate; which, by a
proper attention to the oeconomical precepts of our Chi^
nefe Gardeners, might be done in fuch a manner as to
encreafe its value, as well as improve its appearance.

By thefe means this whole kingdom might foon become
one magnificent vaft Garden, bounded only by the fea^-
the many noble feats and villas with which it abounds-;
would give uncommon confequence to the fcenery; and'
it might ftill be rendered more fplendidj if, inftead of
disfiguring, your churches with monuments, our Chinefe-

manner-

( *34 )

manner of erecting maufoleums by the fides of the roads
was introduced amongft you ; and if all your public
bridges were" adorned with triumphal arches, roftral
pillars, bas-reliefs, itatues, and other indications of
victory, and glorious achievements in war: an empire
transformed into a fplendid Garden, with the imperial
manfion towering on an eminence in the center, and the
palaces of the nobles fcattered like pleafure-pavilions
amongft the plantations, infinitely furpaffes any thing
that even the Chinefe ever attempted: yet vaft as the
defign appears, the execution is certainly within your
reach.

Such, as far as I am able to judge, continued our
Orator, is the true application of nature to horticulture ;
perhaps the only one that can be attempted with fuccefs :
wherever me is made in little, or introduced upon a con-
fined plan, the effect is always trifling and bad, as will
appear to any man of real tafte, who infpects the artificial
fcenery even of your molt approved gardens: Nature

4n eminence in the center— Meaning Windfor, probably.

admits

( J35 )

admits of no reduction in her dimenfions ; trees will not
grow in miniature; nor are her bold movements to be
exprefled upon the furface of a few acres: and not to
mention any of your performances, it is fcarcely in the
power of the mod confummate art, to imitate nature
perfectly; nor were it poflible, could the mofl flcilful
arrangements acquire their true effect, till after the
expiration of many years : our children may fee the
perfection of what we plant ; we never can.

Our eaftern artifts, therefore, feldom attempt to
create, but rather imitate the tonfor, the habit-maker,
the pofture-m after, and all the other polifhers of man;
who difpofe, decorate, cleanfe, clip, and add grace to
what is already formed to their hands : to make nature,
they fay, is tedious and difficult beyond conception;
but fhe may foon be embellished, her redundancys fup*
preiTed, her faults corrected, her wants Supplied, her
beauties improved, and fet to view.

The truth of thefe aflertions is, I think, apparent in
many of your famous plantations ; but the beauties of

( *& )

improved natural fcenery, the defects of artificial, are no
where fo ftrongly marked as at B*#####m, the moil
magnificent feat I have yet feen in Europe. On our
entrance into the Park, we were aftonifhed at the fight
of a ftupendous palace, furrounded with one of the
nobleft fcenes of nature that can be imagined ; the extent
is vaft, the parts uncommonly large, the grounds natu-
rally well contrafled, the tranfitions bold, the plantations
in perfect maturity : what afTiftance was neceffary from
art, has hitherto been judicioufly adminiftered ; the
removal of fome trees, has expofed to view -beauties that
feem before to have been concealed ; the addition .of
fome others, has enriched parts that w.ere bare •, and the
trifling, though very judicious cireumftanee of railing
a head at the end of a valley, has obtained a very confi-
derable lake of water, which enriches- and enlivens all
the profpects; and which, by following the natural bent
or windings of the valley, has taken, without any affift-
ance from art, the mpft pi&urefque forms that could be
defired : in fhort, the whole is now admirable ; and, when
improved to the utmoft, according to the defign of the

munificent

( *37 )

munificent owner, will yet be more (o. Ornaments to
characterize the Garden more ftrongly, are yet wanting,
and fome mafterly finiming touches ftill very necellary :
one only little twining path, within ten cubits of the
fence, is certainly not in character with the grandeur of
the place; but the fence may be removed; and there is
room, even now, on the declivity of the banks, and by
the fides of the lake, for more considerable walks, with
many recefTes, which, when made and decorated, will
add variety to grandeur, and render the whole as enter-
taining and fplendid, as it is now great.

You enjoy the fight of this noble profpect for more
than a mile; when the little path is fuddenly turned into
a little wood, whence, after having advanced a few paces,
you behold a piece of fcenery, all artificial, which I
cannot venture to defcribe in this prefence : fome of you,
Gentlemen, have feen what it is; and, with all your
national partiality, mud allow, either that it proves the
impoflibility of creating nature with any degree of
fuccefs ; or, that the ablefl: of your countrymen have

S no

( '38 )

no talent that way ; to create, or to improve, are indeed
very different operations ; the former of which requires
infinitely the mod fkill: it is ten times more difficult
to paint a picture, than to judge, or fuggeft improve-
ments, in one already painted.

Hitherto I have only defcribed of B##***#m, what
ftrangers ufually fee ; but the whole park, above twelve
miles in circumference, and feveral farms adjoining to it>
are uncommonly beautiful, rich in old planting, in water,
and in a great variety of pidlurefque fites and points of
view; fo that, with a very little dreiling, with fome
affiftance from the fifter arts of architecture and fculp-
ture, the whole might eafily be converted into one large
magnificent Garden.

And give me leave to obferve, that thefe advantages
are by no means peculiar to B***##*m; England boafts
at lead a hundred other places, many as extcnlive, mofl
of them as capable of improvement, in various ways ;
which, under the management of true artifls, might foon

be

( 139 )

be made to rival theTfe-hiu andChang-lin of ancient days,
the Yven ming, the Tchang tchun yven, or any of the
prefent fplendid pleafure Gardens of our fublime Emperor,
Kieng-long ; the torch of the eaft, and true defcendant
of Tay-tfoy, the providence of Heaven, whom Jofs
preferve in flefh and good fpirits.

It muft, however, be confeffed, that there is an in-
conveniency fubfifting amongft you, which will always
retard, and often prevent the execution of this extensive
plan of Gardening; it is the licentioufnefs of your youth
and common people, who delight in deftroying every
extraordinary thing that comes in their way : if a great
man plants trees to made and beautify a road, the people
cut them down; if flatues, or other pieces of fculpture,
are fet to adorn places of public refort, the boys pelt at

ftfe-biu and Chang-lin — Two celebrated parks, which belonged to the
emperors of the Ty.

Tven-ming-yven, and Tchang-tthun-yven — Are Gardens near Pe-king, belong-
ing to the prefent Emperors of China.

Jo/s — A corruption of Dios, God.

S 2 them

( *40 )

them with ftones, till all their extremities are demolifhed:
wherever there are buildings, or feats, even in you?
Royal Gardens, we fee them eonflantly disfigured with
fcurrilous infcriptions, or obfeene rhimes ; and where
there are any uncommon trees, they are divefted of every
branch within reach ; the fhrubs are robbed of their
blofTom; the flowers are trodden under foot ; the birds-
and animals are deftro'yed t in fhort, no mifchief, that
drunken mirth or deliberate malevolence can fu go-eft, w
left undone. What pity that fuch deftrudtive brutality
fhould exift in a country fo particularly favoured by
Nature, and fo capable of improvement in- the highest
degree ; w hi 1ft, in every other part of the world,, it ;£.
unknown, almoft unheard of!

But there is a ftrong tin&ure of the rhubarb in alB
human competitions; and liberty, which has fo many
advantages, is, neverthelefs, attended with fome incon-
veniencies, of a very ferious nature -x amongft which,
the ferocity of its loweft votaries is none of the leaffc
formidable. Since our arrival here laft July, I have {een

( 1+1 )

at leafl: twenty of their boifterous pranks ; in which, not
to enumerate the broken windows, the bloody nofes, the
kicks, and the baftinadoes of other gentlemen, I have
myfelf been a melancholy fufferer upon various occafions;
particularly at Portfmouth, where I was thrown into ths
fea, and narrowly efcaped drowning, for the diverflon
of the company. Would to Heaven ! — as I fay to the
miftrefs Chet-quas in a morning — would to Heaven,, my
ducks, we were well at Quang-chew-fu again, with all.
our long nails, and all our whifkers about usl The
rigours of an Emperor are lefs frightful to me, than the
frolics of a favage mob, elevated to madnefs with fongs
of freedom, and tons of ftrong beer: it is eafier to pleafe
a man with one good head, than a monfter with tea
thoufand,, all bad ones.

Miao kao faan-quai Tjat paat quai-tfai

Pardon this digreflion, which the terrors of a difturbed
imagination have drawn me into \ and permit your fervaot
to re-affume the thread of his Difcourfe.

Mao kao, &V. — Muttering exprefiions from Hoaag-fou-tfe, or Confucius,

Wherever

( 142 )

"Wherever the extent is considerable, and the lands
properly formed for the purpofe, the mode of natural
-Gardening, juft recommended, ought certainly to be
employed in preference to any other, as it furpaffes all
others in perfection, and is yet moil: eafily executed:
but in or near great cities, where property is much di-
vided, on flats, where nature has no play, in all tame
iituations ; the richer and more artificial manner of our
Gardening is preferable : becaufe it may contain much
variety in a fmall compafs, and corrects the natural
defects of the ground, more fpeedily, more effectually,
with lefs charge than any other.

This manner is alfo propereft for grounds that imme-
diately furround elegant ftru&ures, where order and
fymmetry are abfolutely necefTary; and for many little
jcnclofures, or refting-places of various kinds, that mud
.always be difperled in different parts of extenflve plan-
tations j where nicety of drcfs, and exceilive decoration
.are in character,; and where they may be conveniently
fecured with ftronger fences, to guard them from public
'intrufian*

( 143 )

Thefe choice pieces of cultivation are appropriated to
the owner and his felect friends ; fet afide for convivial
pleafures, and enjoyments that can only be tafted in
private : they may be confidered as more fpacious apart-
ments, as habitations adapted to the milder feafons of
the year, in which Art and Nature unite to furnifh a
variety of whatever is beautiful, elegant, extraordinary
or entertaining ; whilfr. the larger improvements are fuited
to the more open amufements of the owner, contrived
upon a bolder fyftem, for a more diftant and curfory
inflection : they are a noble indication of his confequence ,
a benevolent, as well as artful tribute to the community 5
which, whilft it ferves to multiply the conveniencys, or
promote the innocent amufements of the public, fecures
the popularity of the benefactor, and marks, in the
ftrongefr. colours, his power, wealth and munificence.
How thefe confiderations operate in England, I, who
am a ftranger, cannot determine ; but in the kingdoms
of the Eafl: they have great weight*

Your connoiffeurs will, I know, object: to our arti-
ficial fcenery 5 which they confider as unnatural, ancL

( 144 3

itprefent as too expenfive for imitation. On the former
of thefe points you have already heard my fentiments; I
need not now repeat them: thofe who are not yet con-
vinced, may dill feed on crabs, and leave ananas to
.tetter heads.

Till my arrival in England, I never doubted but
the appearance of art was admiiTible, even necefTary
to the effence of a fplendid Garden : and I am more
firmly of that opinion, after having feen your Englifh
Gardens ; though the contrary is fo violently main-
tained by your countrymen, in oppofition to the
reft of the world, to the practice of all other polifhed
nations, all enlightened ages ; and, as far as I am able
to judge, in oppofition to reafon. But your people
.delight in extremes ; and, whenever they get upon a
new fcent, purfue it with fuch rage, that they always
overlhoot the bounds. We admire Nature as much as
you do ; but being of a more phlegmatick difpofition,
jour afTeclions are fomewhat better regulated : we confider
how me may be employed, upon every occafion, to

moil

( *45 )

moft advantage ; and do not always introduce her in the
fame garb ; but fhovv her in a variety of forms ; fome-
times naked, as you attempt to do ; fometimes difguifed;
fometimes decorated, or afiifted by art; fcrupuloufly
avoiding, in our moft artlefs difpofitions, all refemblance
to the common face of the country, with which the
Garden is immediately furrounded ; being convinced,
that a removal from one field to another, of the fame
appearance, can never afford any particular pleafure, nor
ever excite powerful fenfations of any kind.

. If I muft tell you my mind freely, Gentlemen, both
your artifts and connoiffeurs feem to lay too much ftrefs
on nature and fimpliclty; they are the conftant cry of
every half-witted dabbler, the burthen of every fbng,
the tune by which you are infenfibly lulled into dullnefs
and infipidity. If refemblance to nature were the mea-
fure of perfection, the waxen figures in Fleet-ftreet,
would be fuperior to all the works of the divine Buon-
arotti ; the trouts and wood-cocks of Elmer, preferable
to the cartoons of Raphael : but, believe me, too much

T nature

( i+6 )

nature is often as bad as too little, as may be deduced
from many examples, obvious to every man converfant
in polite knowledge. Whatever is familiar, is by no
means calculated to excite the ftrongeft feelings; and
though a clofe refemblance to familiar objects may
delight the ignorant, yet, to the fkilful, it has but few
charms, never any of the moft elevated fort; and is fome-
times even difgufting: without a little afliftance from art,
nature is feldom tolerable; me may be compared to
certain viands, either taftelefs, or unpleafant in them-
felves : which, neverthelefs, with fome feafoning, become
palatable ; or, when properly prepared, compofe a moft
exquifite difli.

And with refpecl to fimplicity, wherever more is
admitted than may be requifite to conilitute grandeur,
or necefTary to facilitate conception, it is always a fault.
To the human mind, fome exertion is always necefTary :
it muft be occupied to be pleafed ; and is more fatisfied
with a treat, than with a frugal repaft : for though it
doth not delight in intricacies, yet, without a certain,

even

( '147 )

even a considerable degree of complication, no grateful
fenfations can ever be excited. Exceflive fimplicity can
only pleafe the ignorant or weak, whofe comprehensions
are flow, and whofe powers of combination are confined,

Simplicity muft therefore be ufed with difcretion, and
the dofe be adapted to the conftitution of the patients,
amongft favages and Hottentots ; where arts are unknown,
refinements unheard of, an abundant portion may be
neceffary; but wherever civilization has improved the
mental faculties, a little, with proper management, will
go a very great way: need I prove what the mufic,
poetry, language, arts and manners, of every nation
demonftrate, beyond the pofiibility of a doubt.

Another favourite word of your virtuofi, is purity; a
word of which, being a flranger, I do not perhaps know
the full value ; nor exactly in what fenfe it is applied to
the art in queftion. • We are told, that in the purity of
Gardening, you were never equalled by any nation;
even that this boafted purity never appeared in any

T 2 country

• ( 148 )

country but England : it may be fo ; your Gardens have
certainly been purged to the quick, freed of every en-
cumberance, and cleanfed of every extrinfick redundancy;
fo that nothing now remains but the genuine carcafs, in
its native purity : yet whether this quality, which I
apprehend is the only one that can pofitively be implied,
is a perfection or a blemifh, will always be difputed ; for
though pure wine is, without doubt, a delicious beverage,
and preferable to that which is mixed, yet pure water is
very infipid, and may be much mended, by the additions
of arrack, lemon and fugar, to turn it into punch ; and
ninety-nine perfons in a hundred will maintain, that
your pure Gardens might be much improved by the
addition of embellifliments proper to produce variety,
and fet off the vegetation to advantage : for vary your
trees and fhrubs as much as poilible, combine them in

For though pure ivine, &c. — It is remarkable, that our Orator draws moft
of his fimiles and allufions either from the kitchen or the cellar ; whether
this particularity proceeded from any fkill of his in the culenary art, from his
affection for good living, or from any other hidden motive; or whether it
was merely accidental, the Editor never could learn with any degree o£
certainty,

every

( 149 )

every imaginable arrangement, they are ftill but trees
and flirubs ; they can imprefs but a very few images
upon the mind of the fpectator, and only affect his
fenfes with very flight perceptions^

That our artificial ftile of Gardening is expensive, is
doubtlefs true ; yet certainly not ruinoufly fo. In my
former voyage, I knew an unfortunate prince, who, on
a very moderate allowance from his relations, fupported
a court in fplendour; and, with the furplus, formed one
of the moft extraordinary, as well as magnificent artificial
Gardens I ever faw. It is furprizing what good ma-
nagement will do, where management is neceffary; but
you are too rich ever to need it in any thing. I have
feen more money expended here, in digging an ugly
pond, than would have compleated a whole Garden elfe-
where; yet, after all, the pond would never hold water.
But, to proceed — You have all fo.tn what the French
have done at Verfailles, Marli, Trianon, Saint Cloud,
Liancourt, and Chaniily; the Italians near Rome, at
Tivoli, at Frefcati, and in many other parts of Italy : I

do

( *5° )

do not here enter into the merit of thefe works; but
they are certainly as coftly, perhaps more fo, than any
of ours; yet thefe were done by foreigners, of different
denominations ; all without the leaft help of magick : you
are richer than they; you may, with fome trouble,
acquire their ikill ; it is hoped you have already more
than their fpirit ; be not, therefore, afraid to attempt,
what they have already long fince accompli/hed.

I have formerly told you what fort of art we employ
in our Chinefe Gardening; I now recommend it to your
imitation ; and though in general your European arti-
ficial manner appears not to me perfe<9:, yet doth it con-
tain many things highly deferving notice, which you
have imprudently laid afide, without fubflituting any
equivalent*

To inftance the Gardens of France ; they are, I will
allow, fufliciently extravagant : you hear of nothing but
iflands of love, or halls of feftivity ; every recefs is the
retreat of a God, Gvery profpecl: a fcene of enchantment:

like

like their petit maitres, they are all out of nature, all
affectation ; yet it is an affectation often delightful, and
abfurdity generally overflowing with tafle and fancy : in
their beft works there is fuch a myfterious, pleafing in-
tricacy in the difpofition, fuch variety in the objects, fo
much fplendour and animation in the fcenery, and fo
much fkill apparent in the execution of every part, that
the attention of the fpectator never flags ; the fucceflion
is fo rapid, that he is hurried on from one exhibition to
another, with his mind constantly upon the (tretch : he
has only time to be pleafed ; there is no leifure to reflect,
none to be difgufted with the extravagance of what he
fees, if their Gardens are lefs rational than yours, they
are certainly much more entertaining; and though, upon
the whole, they can by no means be propofed as models
for imitation, yet are there many things to be borrowed
from them, which might be adopted by you with con-
fiderable advantage.

I may fay the fame with regard to the Italian Gardens,
of which the ftyle is lefs affected, lefs extravagant than

in

( '52 }

|n thofe of France: the heat of the climate obliges the
inhabitants to feek for fhade ; the walks are fheltered,
the plantations clofe, whence their compositions have a
gloom, and an air of folitude that are exceedingly awful.
There is a grandeur of manner in all their works, feldom
to be met with elfewhere; which, about Rome, and in
fome other parts of Italy, is greatly heightened by the
majeftick face of Nature, framed upon a larger fcale,
and broken into nobler forms, than in moft other
countries. Their vegetation too is uncommonly pic-
turefque; the abundance of water with which they are
every where fupplied, enables them to form a thoufand
pleafing combinations ; and the venerable veftiges of
ancient Structures, which rear their decaying heads above
the plantations, add furprizingly to the dignity of the
fcenery.

At every ftep, the admiration cf the fpectator is
excited by Statues, therms, bas-reliefs, farcophagi urns,
vafes, and other remains of ancient fplendour ; or he is
delighted with the productions of modern artifts, inge-
niously

( 153 )

nioufly imagined, well executed, and fkilfully difpofed.
It is not eafy to conceive any thing more entertaining,
to a man of tafte, than an Italian Garden ; in which,
amidft a profufion of pleafing objects, the fame elegance
of choice, the fame elevation of ftyle fo confpicuous in
the fculpture and painting of the great Italian fchools, is
every where prevalent.

To branch out into farther defcriptions of your con-
tinental Gardens, is perhaps fuperfluous, and may be
thought foreign to the prefent purpofe; as fome of them
differ very little from thofe juft mentioned; and others
are too trifling, or imperfect, to deferve any notice :
yet permit me, before I finifh, to give a flight fketch of
the Dutch Gardening; from which I am apt to believe

your ideas of the artificial ftyle are chiefly collected, and
your extraordinary averfion to it principally owing.

In Holland, parterres, embroidered in box, brick-duft,
fea-coal, and broken porcelain, are every where admired.
No Garden is perfect, that is not furrounded with a wet

U ditch,

( '54 )

ditch, and many lufthoufes hanging over it, for fmoking
tobacco ; nor is there any elegance, without fome tons
of lead, transformed into Ikating Dutchmen, Harlequins,
and fluting Shepherdeffes, all richly painted, in proper
colours: azure flower-pots, with gilt handles, are ken
in every corner ; and golden mercury are perched, like
birds, upon every pinnacle : every pafs is guarded by
pafteboard Grenadiers; and Fame, ftraddling over the
entrance, difplays a Dutch label to the paffenger, telling
the name and beauties of the place, the virtues and
moral opinions of the proprietor. Thefe particularities,
with all the formal abfurd parts of the French Gardenings
make an Eden in Holland; a thing too ridiculous to be
out of humour with any where ; 'tis a pity it has had fa
ferious an effect upon you. You are a wife people ; yet,
in t,he reformation of Gardening, you have followed the
beaten road of ignorance: to avoid one fault, you have
run headlong into another, its oppoiite : becaufe, in
the Old Gardening, art, order and variety, were carried
to an extravagant excefs, you have, in the New, almoit.
totally excluded them all three : to mend an exuberant,

fantaftick

( 155 )

fantaftick drefs, you have ftripped flark naked : and, to
heal a dhtempered limb, you have, like fome famous
furgeons of our day, chopped it entirely off.

All connoiffeurs amongft you, and even amongft us,
agree in defpifing our enchanted, or fupernatural fcenery;
which, they fay, is trifling, abfurd, extravagant, abound-
ing in conceits and boyifh tricks ; that operating chiefly
by furprize, it has little or no effe£t, after a nrft or
fecond infpedion, and confequently can afford no plea-
fure to the owner : yet our beft Artifts, who have no ex-
ceflive reverence for the decrees of connoiffeurs*, and who
think the owner is not the only perfon to be entertained,
often introduce it; either where the plan is extenftve,
and admits of many changes ; or, where the ground is
barren of natural varieties : faying, in their vindication,
that it lerves as an interlude between more ferious expo-

* In China they have an innumerable multitude of connoiffeurs and
criticks ; who, with a very ftiperficial knowledge, a few general maxims,
and fome hard words, boldly decide on fubje&s they do not underfland:
hence the whole fraternity is fallen into difrepute. They have, indeed, like
Ui, fome real connoiffeurs amongft them ; but thefe are very rare in China.

U 2 fitions ;

( 156 }

fitions ; that, at a treat, there fhould be meats for every
palate ; in a (hop of general refort, goods for every fancy;
in a Garden, deiigned for publick infpection, exhibitions
of every kind ; that all may . find fomething to their
liking, and none go away difappointed or dinatisfied :
and, as at a feaft, men eat of what they bed relifli,
without mumbling the reft of the dirties, but leave them
untainted for others to feed upon, fo, in a Garden, if a
man be too wife to laugh, or be pleafed with trifles, he
may pafs them over unnoticed : amongfi: the multitude,
there are many fancies to gratify; children, old women,
eunuchs, and pleafure-mifTes, ought to be diverted, as
well as fages, mandarines, or connoiffeurs. It is not
every one, fay they, that enjoys the force or fiercenefs
of grand compositions; to fome they are even terrifying:
weak minds delight in little objects, which are eafieft;
adapted to their confined comprehensions; as children
are better pleafed with a puppet-fhow, than with more
ferious or noble performances.

Thus they reafon; and lay moreover, that, as the prin-
cipal parts of this fupernatural Gardening confifts in a

( «57 )

difplay of many furprizing phcenomena, and extraordinary
effects, produced by air, fire, water, motion, light, . and
gravitation, they may be confidered as a collection of phi-»
lofophical experiments, exhibited in a better manner, upon
a larger fcale, and more forcibly than is common : in that
light they think, even men of fenfe may venture to look
at them, without impeachment of their understanding; to
admire what is ingenious, new or extraordinary ; and
ftare at what they do not comprehend. Whether the con-
noiffeurs or the.artifts are molt in the wrong, I will not
decide.; you, Gentlemen, mu ft determine for yourfelves>.

Some' free expreillons, relative to your Gardeners,
conftitute a heavy part of the charge exhibited againft
me : it feems therefore neceiTary, in alleviation of this
high offence, to declare, that whatever has h^Qii faid on
that fubject, was with an eye to the general character of
the fraternity ; and by no means levelled at yon (lately
gentleman in the black perriwig, as he has been pleafed
to maintain. It could not be my bufinefs to markout
individuals, either by exceflive praife, which was perhaps

ejected..

( 158 )

expected, or by more poignant cenfure: fuch conduct
muft have been fawning in one inftance, invidious in
both ; for there is no exalting one phenomenon, without
proportionably degrading the reft : as in a draw-well,
one bucket can never rife, but when the other finks.
If a man far outftrips his brothers, he will of courfe be
diftinguifhed ; if only a little, his fafefl ftation is in the
croud. And really it is odd that any one mould officioufly
have flepped out of the ranks, infifting, like mafter
Dogberry in the play, upon his exclufive title; where
nothing partial was even diftantly hinted at, no names
mentioned, nor any thing faid, that was not full as ap-
plicable to the brotherhood in general, as to the fagacious
claimant in particular: but

Man lup jao kai Tai hup tao hat.

There is reafon to believe, from various hints which
nave been dropped by Gentlemen here prefent, that the
veracity of Chet-qua's defcription is doubted ; nay, that
the Gardens defcribed, are fuppofed to have no exiftence
but in Chet-qua's brain : be it fot my friends ; I (hall
not feek to refute what you feem fo ftrongly difpofed to

( »59 )

believe ; it is not at prefent material : for the end of all
that I have faid, was rather as an Artift, to fet before
you a new ftyle of Gardening ; than as a Traveller, to»
relate what I have really feen : and, notwithstanding
your ftrictures, you all feemed fatisfied, even entertained
with the defcription : there is no doubt, but the reality,
like all other realities, would affect you ftill more
ftrongly than the picture. I have endeavoured to fhewj.
how that may be obtained : the reft is left to thofe it
moft concerns ; the ingenious, the wealthy, and the
great ; who have power and inclinations to execute what
I attempt to plan : my part is done, as far as I am able
to do it j theirs may begin when they think fit.

And although they may at firft be embarraffed in the
execution of a fyftem fo much more complicated and de-
pendant on genius, on fkill, and on nice judgement,
than that which has hitherto been purfued ; yet there is
no doubt, but practice and perfeverance will, by degrees,
difpel every difficulty : it is at leaft glorious to hazard
arduous attempts , and more honourable even to fail in

manly

( i6o )

iftianly purfuits, than to fucceed in trifling, chlldifti en-
terprizes. Let the timid or the feeble meanly creep upon
the earth, with uniform, fluggard pace ; but the towering
fpirit muft attempt a nobler flight, and. climb the paths
that lead to fame : now gayly fporting on the ilippery
furface, as doth the gentle, graceful lizard ; now thun-
dering up the precipice, with the tremendous dragon's
firide ; now foaring to the top, irately and fplendid as
the imperial bird ; when, with his glittering creft and
twelve irradiant wings, he comes upon the morning's
light, while myriads of the warbling tribes, at awful
diftance, crowd the vaulted air, adore their King, and,
with loud fongs of frantick joy, make the firm earth,
and all yon ftarry heaven.

From the whole tenour of this Difcourfe, and indeed
from the fubftance of the firft DilTertation, it is evident,

The imperial bird, or foung-hoang, is a fabulous being, of the nature
of the phoenix ; by the Chinefe poets, accounted the emperor of birds, as
the dragon is of all the fcaly tribe : he is faid never to appear, but in great
pomp, attended by a numerous train of all the moft brilliant and extraor-
dinary of the volatile race.

Gentlemen,

( j6i )

Gentlemen, that your fervant Chet-qua has no averfion
to natural Gardening ; but is, on the contrary, a zealous
advocate in its favour, wherever there is room to expandj
and work upon a great fcale, or where it can conveniently,
and with propriety be introduced. The ftyle which in-
England has been adopted, preferable to others, is not
what appears to him reprehenfible ; but he laments the
little ufe you have made of your adoption, and ap-
prehends your partiality is too exceflive, while you
obftinately refufe theaffiftanceof almoft every extraneous1
embellifhment, and perfift in an indifcriminate applica-
tion of the fame manner, upon all occafions, however
oppofite, or ill adapted; and often where no probab-
ility of fuccefs appears. Natural Gardening, when
treated upon an extenfive plan, when employed with'
judgement, and conducted with art, is perhaps as'
fuperior to all other forts of culture, as heroiek verfe
is to every other fpecies of writing; but there are
many occafions, where neither the one nor the other
can, with the leaft propriety, be employed; where,
they would only ferve to give a ridicule to the whole

X com—

( 162 )

compofition ; and where different or lefs elevated modes
of exprefiion are, on all accounts, preferable. Artifts
of other profeffions, vary their manners of applying to
the human affections ; fuiting them to the circumftances
or nature of the fubjects before them ; and they are
oftenefl indebted to thefe variations for their fuccefs ;
why then mould Gardeners always confine themfelves to
the fame tract, and torture all difpofitions to adapt them
to the fame method, like that tyrant of old, who ftretched
or mutilated every gueft, till he fitted a particular bed ?
Can they hope to fucceed by means, which others have
found ineffectual ; or is it reafonable to fuppofe, that
Nature will change her courfe to pleale their fancy ?
Variety is a powerful agent,- without the affiftance of
which, little can be effected ; it captivates even with
trifles; and, when united to perfection, has charms
which nothing can refift : the moft exquifite pictures of
nature, receive additional beauties from a judicious op-
position of art; and the confined, uniform, taftelefs walk
of imitation, which you have unfortunately fallen into,
muft Jiave many helps to make it even tolerable ; a thou-
sand enlivening additions, to animate its native dulnefs.

( i63 )

Thus I have confidered every part of my firft Dif-
courfe, and offered in its vindication, what immediately
occurs to me : perhaps, with more leifure, I might have
contrived a better Speech, and a ftronger Defence ; but
the hurry of Face-making is fuch, that there is fcarcely
time to eat rice, or drink brandy, much lefs to think :
I never frequent my wives but by night; I have only
heard one of them fcold, and feen the others by twilight,
thefe fix months : judge then, what can be expected from
Chet-qua ; the little knowledge he has, or thinks he
has, is freely communicated to his neighbours ; he wifhes
it were more and better ; yet fuch as it is, he flatters
himfelf it will be kindly received ; and that his neigh-
bours will ufe what may be ufeful, without kicking too
violently at the reft.

Hurry of face-making — The Chinefe call portrait-painting, or modelling por-
traits in coloured clay, which was Chet-qua's particular profeffion, face-
making.

Eat rice or drink brandy — The Chinefe call dining, eating rice ; and their
common liquors, at meals, are fpirits, of various forts.

FINIS.

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